Improved waveguide designs for 9.0μm GaAs-based quantum cascade laser （QCL） structures are presented. Modal losses and confinement factors are calculated for TM modes with the transfer matrix method （TMM） and effective index method （EIM）. The thicknesses of the cladding layer and waveguide layer, the ridge-width, and the cavity length are all taken into account. Appropriate thicknesses of epilayers are given with lower threshold gain and more economical material growth time.
