Midinfrared lasers with an asymmetrical InPAsSb/InAsSb/AlAsSb double heterostructure are reported. Using the asymmetrical double heterostructure, p- and n-cladding layers are separately optimized; high energy-gap AlAsSb (E-g approximate to 1.5 eV) for the p-type cladding layer to reduce the leakage current, and thus to increase T-o, and low energy-gap InPAsSb (E-g approximate to 0.5 eV) for the n-cladding layer to have low turn-on voltage. 100-mu m-width broad-area lasers with 1000 mu m cavity length exhibited peak output powers of 1.88 W in pulse and 350 mW in continuous wave modes per two facets at T=80 K with T-o of 54 K and turn-on voltage of 0.36 V. Maximum peak output powers up to 6.7 W were obtained from a laser bar of total aperture of 400 mu m width and cavity length of 1000 mu m, with a differential efficiency of 34% and far-field beam divergence narrower than 40 degrees at 80 K. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)00909-2].