Superlattice quantum cascade lasers operating at very long wavelengths (/spl lambda//spl ap/17 /spl mu/m)

Summary form only given. We present the realization of a quantum cascade (QC) laser employing so-called chirped superlattices and operating at 17 /spl mu/m, which represents the first demonstration of a semiconductor injection laser based on intra-band transitions at wavelengths beyond the atmospheric windows. A schematic band diagram of the structure, which has been grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) in InGaAs-InAlAs is given.