News Article
LightPath Technologies develops semiconductor QCLs
A new aspheric moulded lens has been introduced by LightPath Technologies for the development of semiconductor QCLs.
Semiconductor quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are part of a new project by LightPath Technologies to introduce a new aspheric molded lens for collimating light from long-wave and medium-wave infrared lasers.
The lens manufactured from the firm's Black Diamond chalcogenide glass has a high numerical aperture which is designed for maximum light collection from QCLs. Optical designers can take advantage of aspheric performance in medium-wave infrared lasers without having to build expensive zinc selenide lenses.
Unlike interband semiconductor lasers, QCLs achieve laser emission through intersubband transitions in a stack of semiconductor multiple quantum well heterostructures.
Jim Gaynor, chief executive officer and president of LightPath Technologies, said the new lens will allow system designers "to take advantage of QCLs to address rapidly expanding markets such as the $1.2 (£744 million) billion gas and environmental sensing equipment market, the $6 billion infrared countermeasure market and $37 billion explosives detection systems market".
He added that LightPath Technologies is expanding, with the introduction of its lens, its laser collimation lenses traditional market.
