Predictive microscopic approach to transport and optics in THz quantum cascade lasers

The review paper outlined in this extended abstract is separated in three parts. In the first part, current trends in telecommunication towards the terahertz range and expected near future developments will be presented. In the second part, different methods to generate THz radiation will be discussed and their advantages and limitations will be compared and contrasted, leading to an overview to possible technological choices to be adopted in the near future. In the third part, results of the current state of the art simulator for electronic transport in quantum cascade lasers will be highlighted. © 2010 IEEE.