80/spl deg/C continuous-wave operation of 2.01-/spl mu/m wavelength InGaAlAs-InP vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Electrically pumped buried tunnel junction InGaAlAs-InP vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with self-adjusted lateral current and optical confinement and record emission wavelengths beyond 2 /spl mu/m are presented. Front and back side mirrors are realized using 31.5 epitaxial layer pairs of alternating InGaAs-InAlAs and a dielectric 2.5 pair CaF/sub 2/-a-Si layer stack. The devices show single-mode continuous-wave operation up to heat sink temperatures over 80/spl deg/C. The maximum output power at 20/spl deg/C reaches 0.43 mW, threshold current and voltage are as low as 0.66 mA and 0.73 V, respectively. To reach the long emission wavelength, we use an optimized active region comprising heavily strained quantum wells. High-resolution X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence measurements reveal excellent material quality without relaxation in the quantum wells.     

Low-threshold operation of 1.34-/spl mu/m GaInNAs VCSEL grown by MOVPE

Low-threshold operation was demonstrated for a 1.34-/spl mu/m vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) with GaInNAs quantum wells (QWs) grown by metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy. Optimizing the growth conditions and QW structure of the GaInNAs active layers resulted in edge-emitting lasers that oscillated with low threshold current densities of 0.87 kA/cm/sup 2/ at 1.34 /spl mu/m and 1.1 kA/cm/sup 2/ at 1.38 /spl mu/m, respectively. The VCSEL had a low threshold current of 2.8 mA and a lasing wavelength of 1.342 /spl mu/m at room temperature and operated up to 60/spl deg/C.     

InGaAs-AlAs-AlAsSb coupled quantum well intersubband transition all-optical switch with low switching energy for OTDM systems

We report a novel intersubband transition all-optical switch with low switching energy using InGaAs-AlAs-AlAsSb coupled double quantum wells (C-DQWs) with AlAs spacer layers. Very low saturation energy density of 34 fJ//spl mu/m/sup 2/ was observed for bulk transmittance with wavelength of 1.62 /spl mu/m. Using a waveguide, whose core is 93 periods of the C-DQWs, an all optical switch with a low switching energy of 10 pJ for 10-dB extinction ratio was realized.     

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.     

High-speed modulation of strain-compensated InGaAs-GaAsP-InGaP multiple-quantum-well lasers

Small signal direct modulation characteristics of InGaAs-GaAsP-InGaP multiple quantum well ridge waveguide lasers (4.5/spl times/220 /spl mu/m/sup 2/) are described. The compressive strain of four InGaAs quantum wells is compensated by the tensile strain of GaAsP barriers. The lasers have a threshold current of 8 mA and an internal differential quantum efficiency of 80%. A 3-dB bandwidth of 25 GHz is obtained at 54 mA. It is found that the strain-compensated lasers have a K factor as low as 0.15 ns, implying a maximum 3-dB bandwidth of 59 GHz.     

Understanding the ultra-low intersubband saturation intensity in InGaAs-AlAsSb quantum wells

We report a novel intersubband material system based on strained InGaAs-AlAs-AlAsSb quantum wells that exhibits a very low, 3 fJ//spl mu/m/sup 2/, saturation intensity and about 2-ps carrier-relaxation time at 1.68 /spl mu/m. We performed a density matrix calculation to estimate the saturation intensity by simulating the pulsed excitation conditions of the experiment. These studies indicate slow dephasing time and reduced inhomogeneity as the possible mechanisms for the observed large nonlinearity. A detailed dephasing time calculation shows that rather than the reduction in the electron effective mass in these strained quantum wells (QWs), the effect of enhanced concentration of doped carriers in these QWs with reduced inhomogeneity could be the origin of slow dephasing and the observed large nonlinearity.     

Broad-band superluminescent diodes fabricated on a substrate with asymmetric dual quantum wells

Broad-band AlGaAs-GaAs superluminescent diodes are fabricated using asymmetric dual quantum wells. With a proper design of the quantum-well structure, the spectral width of the superluminescent diodes could be engineered. By choosing 40 /spl Aring/ and 75 /spl Aring/, respectively, for the two quantum wells, the spectrum remains bell-shaped and is broadened to 2/spl sim/3 times that of the conventional superluminescent diodes. The measured spectra show that there is no obvious preference on the transition in either well at any pumping current.     

High-performance 1.06-/spl mu/m selectively oxidized vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with InGaAs-GaAsP strain-compensated quantum wells

We present the first room-temperature continuous-wave operation of high-performance 1.06-/spl mu/m selectively oxidized vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL's). The lasers contain strain-compensated InGaAs-GaAsP quantum wells (QW's) in the active region grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. The threshold current is 190 /spl mu/A for a 2.5/spl times/2.5 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ device, and the threshold voltage is as low as 1.255 V for a 6/spl times/6 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ device. Lasing at a wavelength as long as 1.1 /spl mu/m was also achieved. We discuss the wavelength limit for lasers using the strain-compensated QW's on GaAs substrates.     

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.     

High performance 1.28 /spl mu/m GaInNAs double quantum well lasers

The use of multiple quantum wells and GaAs barriers favours the temperature stability and modulation bandwidth of GaInNAs lasers. It is shown that a very low threshold current density and a high characteristic temperature can be achieved for GaInNAs/GaAs double quantum well lasers, emitting at 1.28 /spl mu/m, when grown by molecular beam epitaxy under favourable conditions.     

Electroabsorption modulator using intersubband transitions in GaN-AlGaN-AlN step quantum wells

We calculate the high-speed modulation properties of an electroabsorption modulator for /spl lambda/=1.55 /spl mu/m based on Stark shifting an intersubband resonance in GaN-AlGaN-AlN step quantum wells. In a realistic simulation assuming an absorption linewidth /spl Gamma/=100 meV we obtain an RC-limited electrical f/sub 3dB//spl sim/60 GHz at an applied voltage swing V/sub pp/=2.8 V. We also show that a small negative effective chirp parameter suitable for standard single-mode fiber is obtained and that the absorption is virtually unsaturable. The waveguide is proposed to be based on the plasma effect in order to simultaneously achieve a strong confinement of the optical mode, a low series resistance, and lattice-matched cladding and core waveguide layers. Extrapolated results reflecting the decisive dependence of the high-speed performance on the intersubband absorption linewidth /spl Gamma/ are also given. At the assumed linewidth the modulation speed versus signal power ratio is on a par with existing lumped interband modulators based on the quantum confined Stark effect.     

Optical beam steering using InGaAsP multiple quantum wells

We report an efficient optical beam steering device based on InGaAsP multiple quantum wells. An area-selective zinc in-diffusion process is used to define highly localized p-n junctions through which electrical currents are injected into the quantum wells. The extent of the lateral spreading of the electrical carriers can be optimized by selecting the appropriate diffusion depth. Using a twin-parallel-stripe structure, an optical beam at a wavelength of 1.51 /spl mu/m was steered over a 17-/spl mu/m range using dc electrical currents of less than 13 mA.     

High-power optically pumped VECSEL using a double-well resonant periodic gain structure

We present the design and fabrication of an optically pumped vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers with double-well resonant periodic gain structure. Each double-well consists of two 4-nm-thick InGaAs strained quantum wells. The double-well provides optimum overlap between the quantum wells and the antinodes of the standing wave of laser signal at high-power and high-temperature operation. The structure is more tolerant to variation of the growth, processing, and operating temperature for maintaining high modal gain. For a 230-/spl mu/m diameter pump spot, over 4-W continuous-wave output with a slope efficiency of 39% is demonstrated at 30/spl deg/C without thermal rollover.     

Low-threshold proton-implanted 1.3-/spl mu/m vertical-cavity top-surface-emitting lasers with dielectric and wafer-bonded GaAs-AlAs Bragg mirrors

We demonstrate a new structure for long-wavelength (1.3-/spl mu/m) vertical-cavity top-surface-emitting lasers using proton implantation for current confinement. Wafer bonded GaAs-AlAs Bragg mirrors and dielectric mirrors are used for bottom and top mirrors, respectively. The gain medium of the lasers consists of nine strain-compensated AlGaInAs quantum wells. A record low room temperature pulsed threshold current density of 1.13 kA/cm/sup 2/ has been achieved for 15-/spl mu/m diameter devices with a threshold current of 2 mA. The side-mode-suppression-ratio is greater than 35 dB.     

Design and fabrication of 1.3-/spl mu/m vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers using dielectric reflectors

A novel vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser structure has been fabricated with low loss and high reflectivity a-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3//a-Si distributed Bragg reflectors. The active region consists of AlGaInAs multiple quantum wells and a tunnel junction and has been grown by a single-step metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Laser emission at 1.3 /spl mu/m was achieved under continuous-wave operation at room temperature.     

High performance 1.55 /spl mu/m vertical external cavity surface emitting laser with broadband integrated dielectric-metal mirror

1.55 /spl mu/m room-temperature continuous-wave operation of a high performance optically pumped vertical external cavity surface emitting laser is reported. The structure includes an active region with strain compensated quantum wells, and a broadband SiN/sub x//Si/Au Bragg reflector transferred on an Si substrate by Au/In dry bonding. Output power of up to 45 mW is achieved at 0/spl deg/C, and continuous-wave operation is observed up to 45/spl deg/C.     

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.     

High-efficiency 1.3 /spl mu/m InAsP-GaInP MQW electroabsorption waveguide modulators for microwave fiber-optic links

High-efficiency electroabsorption waveguide modulators have been designed and fabricated using strain-compensated InAsP-GaInP multiple quantum wells at 1.32-/spl mu/m wavelength. A typical 200-/spl mu/m-long modulator exhibits a fiber-to-fiber optical insertion loss of 9 dB and an optical saturation intensity larger than 10 mW. The 3-dB electrical bandwidth is in excess of 20 GHz with a 50-/spl Omega/ load termination. When used in an analog microwave fiber-optic link without amplification, a RF link efficiency as high as -38 dB is achieved at 10 mW input optical carrier power. These analog link characteristics are the first reported using MQW electroabsorption waveguide modulators at 1.32 /spl mu/m.     

Proposed scheme for polarization insensitive GaInNAs-based semiconductor optical amplifiers

A novel scheme for polarization insensitive GaInNAs-based semiconductor optical amplifiers is proposed in which TE and TM polarization gain is almost equal for GaInNAs quantum wells with GaInAs barriers. The proposed scheme involves the growth of GaInAs metamorphic layers on GaAs. Based on a k /spl middot/ p Hamiltonian that accounts for the N-induced modifications of the bandstructure, we calculate the optical properties of GaInNAs-GaInAs quantum wells and explore the effect of GaInAs barriers on the valence band mixing effects. The TE and TM amplifier gain of GaInNAs-based semiconductor optical amplifiers with GaInAs barriers is then analyzed.     

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser active regions for enhanced performance with optical pumping

We have developed an improved active region design for optically pumped vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. The design makes use of carrier-blocking layers to segment the absorber and promote uniform carrier populations in the quantum wells with pump efficiencies near 75%. A model to calculate the carrier distribution in the active region and a design methodology are presented along with a metric to describe the carrier uniformity in the quantum wells. Experimental verification of the performance improvements shows an over 50% reduction in device thresholds and an increase of 20/spl deg/C in maximum operating temperatures.