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Widely-tunable interband cascade lasers for the mid-infrared

Distributed feedback (DFB) laser sources are key components of modern gas analyzers based on tunable laser absorption spectroscopy. While the current induced tuning range of DFB lasers is usually limited to a few nanometers, there are a number of applications which will benefit from lasers with a wider tunability, e.g. multi-gas sensing or spectroscopy of liquids. In this paper, we present monolithic widely tunable laser devices in the 3.6 μm wavelength region based on interband cascade laser material. Using the concept of binary superimposed (BSG) grating structures and two-segment Vernier-tuning, stable single-mode emission is realized at discrete wavelength channels in the 3560 nm to 3620 nm region. A total tuning range around 60 nm in three channels is demonstrated. Within a single channel, the emission wavelength can be tuned mode hop free over up to 5 nm. The wavelength channels can be arbitrarily placed in the range of the material gain, allowing BSG lasers to sweep over several gas absorption lines. The number of channels can be chosen as well. Within a wavelength channel, the lasers show DFB like spectral performance with setup limited sidemode suppressino ratios around 25 dB and milliwatt levels of continuous wave output powers around room temperature. This paper will present an overview of the laser concept, simulations, performance data and applications.