Room-temperature operation of InAs quantum-dash lasers on InP [001]

The first self-assembled InAs quantum dash lasers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on InP (001) substrates are reported. Pulsed room-temperature operation demonstrates wavelengths from 1.60 to 1.66 μm for one-, three-, and five-stack designs, a threshold current density as low as 410 A/cm
²
for singlestack uncoated lasers, and a distinctly quantum-wire-like dependence of the threshold current on the laser cavity orientation. The maximal modal gains for lasing in the ground-state with the cavity perpendicular to the dash direction are determined to be 15 cm
^–1
for single-stack and 22 cm
^–1
for five-stack lasers.