The Physics Of Low-Dimensional Effects In Quantum Well Lasers

Julien Nagle; Claude Weisbuch

doi:10.1117/12.947293

18 August 1988 The Physics Of Low-Dimensional Effects In Quantum Well Lasers

Julien Nagle, Claude Weisbuch

Proceedings Volume 0943, Quantum Well and Superlattice Physics II; (1988) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.947293
Event: Advances in Semiconductors and Superconductors: Physics and Device Applications, 1988, Newport Beach, CA, United States

Abstract

The introduction of quantum wells as the active layer of double heterostructure (DH) lasers has considerably improved the threshold and modulation properties in the GaAs/AlGaAs material system. Improved performance has also been recently reported for several other material systems using quantum well lasers (QWL's). The main characteristics of QWL's can be qualitatively understood considering: (i) the balance between the reduction of the active volume and the lowering of the optical confinement factor (ii) the fact that the equivalent 3D carrier density at threshold is higher than in conventional DH lasers leading to significant population of higher-lying energy states and possible important leakage currents. Nevertheless quantitative agreement can only be obtained by introducing the more specific effects of the square 2D density of states and modified optical matrix elements. We show that the inclusion of these features allows us to fully understand the specific properties of QWL's like the recently observed large wavelength jumps under current injection and the anomalous temperature behavior of the threshold current of short cavity lasers.

Citation Download Citation

Julien Nagle and Claude Weisbuch "The Physics Of Low-Dimensional Effects In Quantum Well Lasers", Proc. SPIE 0943, Quantum Well and Superlattice Physics II, (18 August 1988); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.947293

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