In-Depth Experimental Analysis of Influence of Electroplated Gold Thickness on Thermal and Electro-Optical Properties of mid-IR AlInAs/InGaAs/InP Quantum Cascade Lasers.

In this paper, we have examined the influence of electroplated gold thickness on the thermal and electro-optical properties of mid-IR AlInAs/InGaAs, InP QCLs. The experimental results show a significant reduction of the temperature of QCL active region (AR) with increasing gold layer thickness. For QCLs with 5.0 µm gold thickness, we observed a 50% reduction of the active region temperature. An improvement of key electro-optical parameters, that is, threshold current density and maximum emitted power for structures with thick gold, was observed. The results of micro-Raman characterization show that the electroplated gold layer introduces only moderate compressive strain in top InP cladding, which is well below the critical value for the creation of misfit dislocations.

[Air pollution--impact on the human respiratory system]. / Zanieczyszczenie powietrza atmosferycznego--wplyw na uklad oddechowy czlowieka.

Authors present the problem of air-pollution in Central Europe at the turn of centuries. The main sources (natural & antropogenic), main types of pollutants (particularly SO2 and O3), WHO atmospheric air quality Guidelines, outdoor & indoor air pollution, episodic and chronic consequences and mechanisms with clinical effects of air pollution on the respiratory system (function, self-defence) were shortly performed).