Tunable Pb1–ySnySe–PbSe heterojunction laser

Heterojunction lasers of the Pb_1–ySn_ySe–PbSe type were prepared by vapor epitaxy. The minimum threshold at 4.2°K was 500 A/cm². In the working temperature range (4.2–100°K) the emission wavelength of a heterojunction laser diode with y = 0.08 could be tuned within the range 10.6–15 μ (260 cm^–1). The polarization of the emitted radiation and the far-zone intensity distribution were determined.