Broad-band superluminescent light-emitting diodes incorporating quantum dots in compositionally modulated quantum wells

We propose and demonstrate a technique for tailoring the emission bandwidth of /spl sim/1.3 /spl mu/m quantum dot superluminescent light-emitting diodes. A broadening of the emission is achieved by incorporating the InAs quantum dot layers in InGaAs quantum wells of different indium compositions. These structures exhibit a broader and flatter emission compared to a simple dot-in well structure comprised of wells of identical indium composition.     

Design and realization of high-power ripple-free superluminescent diodes at 1300 nm

To realize high-power superluminescent diodes (SLDs) emitting at the 1300-nm wavelength and to see how different structure parameters influence the device performances, three different epitaxial layers have been studied. It was found that the structure employing a graded-refractive-index separate-confinement heterostructure, with linearly graded p-doped cap layer and with eight quantum wells, is most suitable for high-power SLDs. With a proper design of a geometrical structure for SLDs, the obtained output power at 20/spl deg/C is about 25 mW under CW operation and 100 mW at 1.1 A under pulsed operation with no observable ripple.     

High-efficiency AlGaAs-based laser diode at 808 nm with large transverse spot size

Lasers diodes having a large transverse spot size have been fabricated from a modified graded index separate confinement heterostructure with an active region consisting of two 70 /spl Aring/ Al/sub 0.15/In/sub 0.10/Ga/sub 0.75/As strained quantum wells. The catastrophic optical damage threshold for these large transverse mode devices is increased by more than two times over that of conventional devices while still maintaining good device performance.     

High-performance quantum-dot superluminescent diodes

By inclining the injection stripe of a multiple layer stacked self-assembled InAs quantum dot (SAQD) laser diode structure of 6/spl deg/ with respect to the facets, high-power and broad-band superluminescent diodes (SLDs) have been fabricated. It indicates that high-performance SLD could be easily realized by using SAQD as the active region.     

Quantum dot superluminescent diodes emitting at 1.3 /spl mu/m

We report ridge-waveguide superluminescent diodes based on five stacks of self-assembled InAs-GaAs quantum dots. Devices with output powers up to 10 mW emitting around 1.3 /spl mu/m are demonstrated. Spectral analysis shows a broad emission peak (26-nm full-width at half-maximum) from the dot ground state at low injection, and an additional peak from the excited state at higher bias. Temperature characteristics in the range 10/spl deg/C-80/spl deg/C are also reported. The experimental curves are in good agreement with simulations performed using a traveling-wave rate equation model.     

Variable numerical-aperture temporal-coherence measurement of resonant-cavity LEDs

The first interferometric measurements of temporal-coherence length variation with numerical aperture (NA) are described for 650 nm, resonant-cavity light-emitting diodes (LEDs) agreeing with spectrally derived results. The interferometrically measured coherence length (22 /spl mu/m to 32 /spl mu/m) reduced by 37% for a 0.42 increase in NA. For a larger range of NA (0-1), this would give coherence lengths (10 /spl mu/m-40 /spl mu/m) lying in the gap between that of conventional LEDs (/spl sim/5 /spl mu/m) and superluminescent diodes (/spl sim/60 /spl mu/m).     

Fabrication and analysis of high-contrast InGaAsP-InP Mach-Zehnder modulators for use at 1.55-/spl mu/m wavelength

A high-contrast ratio, low voltage-length product, multiple quantum well InGaAsP-InP Mach-Zehnder interferometer is demonstrated and analyzed. An on/off ratio of over 40 dB and voltage-length product of 1.8 V-mm were measured, results which are superior to previous reports of similar MQW structures. Using the Lanczos-Helmholtz beam propagation method, we find that the linear and quadratic electrooptic coefficients for InGaAsP quantum wells are r=(3.9/spl plusmn/1.7) pm/V and s=(5.0/spl plusmn/1.5)/spl times/10/sup -19/ m/sup 2//V/sup 2/, respectively. We also demonstrate active optical alignment of the modulator guides using integrated waveguide light emitting diodes.     

Modeling of multiple-quantum-well solar cells including capture, escape, and recombination of photoexcited carriers in quantum wells

A self-consistent numerical Poisson-Schrodinger-drift-diffusion solver is described for simulation of multiple-quantum-well (MQW) Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As-GaAs solar cells. The rates of escape, capture, and recombination of photoexcited carriers in quantum wells embedded in the intrinsic region of a p-i-n device are self-consistently incorporated in the model. The performance of the device for various quantum-well configurations is investigated and the device characteristics are related to the dynamics of capture, escape, absorption, and recombination of carriers in the quantum wells. Our results show that the incorporation of MQWs in the intrinsic region of a p-i-n solar cell can improve the conversion efficiency of non-optimal devices, if the device is designed based on careful consideration of the behavior of the photoexcited carriers in the quantum wells. Specifically, we found out that an Al/sub 0.1/Ga/sub 0.9/As-GaAs cell with multiple quantum wells of 150 /spl Aring/ is more efficient than an identical single bandgap Al/sub 0.1/Ga/sub 0.9/As cell with no quantum wells, but less efficient than a single bandgap GaAs cell without such quantum wells.     

Experimental analysis of a broadly tunable InGaAsP laser with compositionally varied quantum wells

Custom-designed InGaAsP lasers have been fabricated, tested, and show a broad spectral output at a bias current of 240 mA. The Fabry-Perot ridge waveguide lasers were grown with one 80-/spl Aring/ and five 100-/spl Aring/ quantum wells in the active region. A different material composition was used for each well and this provided contributions to the gain profile over a broad wavelength range. A 1400-/spl mu/m cavity length laser was found to operate in the spectral region from 1475 to 1650 nm and single-mode operation on the individual Fabry-Perot modes of the uncoated laser was achieved over a 172-nm tuning range using a diffractive optical element short external cavity. The side-mode suppression ratio was measured to be above 30 dB at all wavelengths within the tuning range. Complete spectral coverage, in overlapping short segments, with the device is possible using temperature tuning.     

The origins of leaky characteristics of Schottky diodes on p-GaN

The possible origins of the leaky characteristics of a Schottky barrier on p-GaN have been investigated. The as-grown samples did not show any electrical activity using Hall measurements. Ni diodes made on as-activated samples, either at 950/spl deg/C for 5 s or at 750/spl deg/C for 5 min exhibited quasiohmic behavior. Upon sequential etching of the sample to remove a surface layer of 150 /spl Aring/, 1200 /spl Aring/, and 5000 /spl Aring/ from the sample, the I-V behavior became rectifying. I-V-T measurements showed that the slopes of the lnI-V curves were independent of the temperature, indicative of a prominent component of carrier tunneling across the Schottky junction. C-V measurements at each etch-depth indicated a decreasing acceptor concentration from the surface. The highly doped (>1.7 /spl times/ 10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/) and defective surface region (within the top 150 /spl Aring/ from surface) rendered the as-activated Schottky diodes quasiohmic in their I-V characteristics. The leaky I-V characteristics, often reported in the literature, were likely to originated from the surface layer, which gives rise to carrier tunneling across the Schottky barrier. This highly doped/defective surface region, however, can play an important role in ohmic contact formation on p-GaN.     

Photoresponse of (In,Ga)N-GaN multiple-quantum-well structures in the visible and UVA ranges

Characterization and analysis of photoresponse in p-n diodes with embedded (In,Ga)N-GaN multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structures are reported. Their dependence on the number of wells and In composition are considered. The influence of device structure on electric fields in the active region and on device responsivity has also been studied. Theoretical considerations as well as photocapacitance and photocurrent measurements show that the position of quantum wells (QWs), either in the quasi-neutral region or in the space charge region, is a critical factor in the collection efficiency. Hence, device photoresponse is not proportional to the number of QWs in photovoltaic mode. Present p-MQW-n devices show a promising performance as UVA and visible photodetectors, with detectivities, D/sup */, higher than 1.2/spl times/10/sup 12/ cm/spl middot/Hz/sup 1/2//spl middot/W/sup -1/ and rejection ratios higher than 10/sup 3/.     

High-power angled broad-area 1.3-/spl mu/m laser diodes with good beam quality

A new type of high-power laser diodes is fabricated with a broad-area waveguide tilted at 7/spl deg/ from the facet normal. For the current between 0.6 and 1.2 A, it behaves like a superluminescent diode with 40-nm spectral width and 40-mW output power. The far field emits at about 25/spl deg/ away from the facet normal. For the current above 1.2 A, it oscillates with a narrow spectrum. The far field emits along the facet normal with its angle only twice of the diffraction limit. The output power per facet could be 1 W at 12 A.     

非均匀阱宽多量子阱1.55 μm高功率超辐射光源

采用非均匀阱宽多量子阱材料拓宽超辐射器件的输出光谱 ,并利用前期关于倾斜脊形集成超辐射光源的研究成果 ,制得了新型的 1 5 5 μm高功率宽光谱InGaAsP InP集成超辐射光源。发现该器件较均匀阱宽多量子阱器件的输出光谱有很大变化 ,光谱半宽由原来的 2 0～ 30nm ,增加到 4 5～ 6 0nm左右。该器件同样具有较好的抑制激射能力 ,在可测试范围内 ,在没有蒸镀腔面抗反射膜的情况下未见激射模式的出现。在准连续工作条件下 ,器件最大峰值功率已达到 15 0mW以上。     

高功率850 nm宽光谱大光腔超辐射发光二极管

超辐射发光二极管(SLD)具有不同于半导体激光器和普通发光二极管的优异性能。为提高半导体超辐射发光管的光谱宽度,采用非均匀阱宽多量子阱(MQW)材料拓宽超辐射器件的输出光谱。优化设计器件的波导结构,利用大光腔结构设计出高功率、低发散角850 nm超辐射发光二极管。采用直波导吸收区而后在器件的出光腔面上镀制抗反射膜的方法制作超辐射发光二极管。器件在140 mA时器件半峰全宽(FWHM)可以达到26 nm,室温下连续输出功率达到7 mW。器件的垂直发散角为28°,水平发散角为10°。由于器件具有比较小的发散角,与光纤耦合时具有比较高的耦合效率,单模保偏光纤耦合输出功率达到1.5 mW。     

Influence of separate confinement heterostructure on emission bandwidth of InGaAsP superluminescent diodes/semiconductor optical amplifiers with nonidentical multiple quantum wells

Experiments show that the layer of separate confinement heterostructure (SCH) has a significant influence on the emission spectrum of superluminescent diodes (SLDs)/semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs). Reducing the thickness of SCH layer at the p-side could improve the uniformity of carrier distribution among multiple quantum wells (MQWs). With three In/sub 0.67/Ga/sub 0.33/As/sub 0.72/P/sub 0.28/ QWs near the p-side and two In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As QWs near the n-side, when the thickness of the SCH layer changes from 120 to 30 nm, the operation current for SLDs/SOAs to exhibit the full-width at half-maximum spectral width of above 270 nm could be reduced from 500 to 160 mA.     

Room temperature visible (683-713 nm) all-AlGaAs vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs)

Visible emitting all-AlGaAs vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) have been produced by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) using ultra-high purity source reagents. Lasing was obtained at wavelengths in the range 683-713 nm using four 45 /spl Aring/ Al/sub 0.18/Ga/sub 0.82/As quantum wells in the active region. At room temperature, a minimum threshold current density of 3.8 kA.cm/sup -2/ was measured for a wavelength of 692 nm; this is the lowest value for an all-AlGaAs vertical-cavity laser operating at this wavelength. Growth of the epitaxial mirrors at 5.2 /spl mu/m/h/sup -1/ results in a total growth time of only two and a half hours.     

High-performance, metamorphic In/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As tunnel diodes grown by molecular beam epitaxy

Thin In/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As tunnel junction diodes having compositions from x=0.53 to 0.75 that span a range of bandgap energies from 0.74 to 0.55 eV, were grown on InP and metamorphic, step-graded In/sub x/Al/sub 1-x/As/InP substrates using molecular beam epitaxy and evaluated in the context of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) applications. Both carbon and beryllium were investigated as acceptor dopants. Metamorphic tunnel diodes with a bandgap of 0.60 eV (x=0.69) using carbon acceptor doping displayed highest peak current densities, in excess of 5900 A/cm/sup 2/ at a peak voltage of 0.31 V, within a 200 /spl Aring/ total thickness tunnel junction. Identically doped lattice-matched tunnel diodes with a bandgap of 0.74 eV exhibited lower peak current densities of approximately 2200 A/cm/sup 2/ at a higher peak voltage of 0.36 V, consistent with the theoretical bandgap dependence expected for ideal tunnel diodes. Specific resistivities of the 0.60 eV bandgap devices were in the mid-10/sup -5/ /spl Omega/-cm/sup 2/ range. Together with their 200 /spl Aring/ total thickness, the electrical results make these tunnel junctions promising for TPV applications where low-resistance, thin metamorphic tunnel junctions are desired.     

Blue-chirp electroabsorption modulators with very thick quantum wells

Electroabsorption modulators operating at a wavelength of 1.55 /spl mu/m with very thick quantum wells of 19.6 mm were fabricated using InGaAlAs-InAlAs multiple quantum wells. Blue-chirp (/spl alpha/<0) operation for low applied bias was demonstrated with low insertion loss.     

2.61 /spl mu/m GaInAsSb/AlGaAsSb type I quantum well laser diodes with low threshold

Double quantum well laser diodes based on the GaInAsSb/AlGaAsSb system emitting at 2.61 /spl mu/m in continuous-wave regime have been fabricated. In the pulsed regime for a 100 /spl mu/m-wide 1600 /spl mu/m-long device a record threshold current density of 76 A/cm/sup 2/ per quantum well was obtained.     

Effect of inhomogeneous line broadening on gain and differential gain of quantum dot lasers

Detailed theoretical analysis of the size fluctuation in InAs-GaAs quantum dot (QD) lasers is presented. Analytical expressions for the inhomogeneous line broadening and the optical gain are derived for a Gaussian size fluctuation distribution. The effect of size fluctuations on the QD carrier density, modal gain, and differential gain is studied. Red shifts in the gain peak is observed when size fluctuations increases. The energy detuning between the gain peak and the differential gain peak for a pyramidal quantum dot system having an average base length of 130 /spl Aring/ and standard deviation of 7 /spl Aring/ is about 12 meV.