Abstract
This work deals with the study and development of single-frequency semiconductor laser diodes emitting at 2.6 µm. In order to analyze carbon dioxide and water vapor by tunable diode absorption spectroscopy, the components must present a single mode emission in lateral, transverse and longitudinal directions. Laser diodes, made at the laboratory, had before this work a single mode-emission only under certain conditions of temperature and current.<br />The first part of this thesis explains the principle and properties of antimonide-based laser diodes and presents the gas sensing method. <br />The second part shows the improvements of technological steps necessary to achieve a single-mode emission in the lateral and transverse direction. As far as the etching step is concerned, a study of other etching solutions and a setting up of a stop layer is presented.<br />The lateral-coupling DFB technology is exposed in the third part. It permits to obtain a single-mode emission in the longitudinal direction. This technique has been adapted to our materials during this work and consists in realizing a metallic Bragg grating on each side of the laser ridge. <br />The last part shows results of the components with classical and DFB technologies. We have obtained laser diodes emitting at 2.6 µm in continuous wave regime at room temperature. The DFB technology leads to sensible improvements on the emission of these components making them well adapted for gas sensing.<br />This work has led to obtain laser diodes with good electrical and optical properties for carbon dioxide and water vapor analysis. It has allowed gaining an experience in a novel technology with excellent future prospects.