ABSTRACT
Abstract. In this work, electron transport in a terahertz GaAs/AlGaAs quantum cascade laser is calculated self-consistently using an intersubband scattering model. Subband populations and carrier transition rates are calculated and all relevant electron-electron and electron-LO phonon scatterings between the injector/collector and active region levels (13-levels model) are included. Employing an energy balance equation which includes the influence of both electron-LO phonon and electron-electron scattering, the method also enables evaluation of the average electron temperature of the non-equilibrium carrier distributions in the device. The output characteristics, in particular the threshold currents and electric field-current density characteristics, are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with experiment [Kohler et al, Nature, 417, 156 (2002)].
