We investigate room-temperature lasing of terahertz quantum cascade lasers using quantum dot chains as active material suitable for wireless communication and imaging technologies. To make band structure calculations for such extended systems of coupled quantum dots possible, we developed a “linear combination of quantum dot orbitals” method, based on single quantum dot wave functions. Our results demonstrate strong vertical emission of coupled quantum dots, reduced phonon coupling, and in-plane scattering, enabling room-temperature lasing with significantly reduced threshold current densities.

• Received 28 November 2019
• Revised 12 January 2021
• Accepted 5 February 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.103.115301