This is a review paper that is dedicated to assemble and highlight the recent theoretical research developed by us mostly published in  several journals and conference proceedings on the V-VI PbSe/  quantum well material system in the mid infrared region of the spectrum. This material system has the potential to be used as a temperature tunable diode laser in various IR spectroscopy applications. The paper summarizes the effects of band structure, temperature, and internal quantum efficiency on the operation and design parameters of the quantum well structures under investigation. This study shows the effects on energy levels, emitted wavelengths, gain, threshold densities, and threshold currents. It concludes that the leakage current density dominates the contribution to total threshold current at 300K and it is recommended that more work needs to be devoted to experimental and theoretical work on understanding the thermionic emission leakage current. Developing ways to reduce this current will improve the efficiency of mid-IR laser devices made from these IV-VI semiconductor materials.

tunable lasers, lead salts, mid-infrared, spectroscopy.