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Broadly tunable single-mode mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers

In this paper, we review the recent progress in broadly tunable single-mode mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). With a brief introduction on various applications of broadly tunable single-mode mid-infrared QCLs, we first categorize these lasers based on their configurations and tuning schemes. Then recent progress in each scheme is investigated, together with detailed discussions. Furthermore, the pros and cons of different approaches are compared, and the opportunities and challenges for future developments from our point of view are listed. Last but not least, potential new directions and prospects for obtaining broadly tunable single-mode characteristics are also provided. It is foreseeable that, with the development of high performance broadly tunable single-mode mid-infrared QCLs, more applications could be exploited in the near future with new phenomena to be discovered.