The temperature dependence of internal optical losses in semiconductor lasers (λ = 900–920 nm)

The temperature dependences of radiative characteristics of semiconductor lasers based on asymmetric heterostructures of the separate confinement with an extended waveguide fabricated by MOCVD epitaxy (the emission wavelength λ = 900–920 nm) are studied. It is established that the threshold concentration in the active region and waveguide layers of the laser heterostructure of the separate confinement increases in the CW lasing mode as the pumping current and temperature of the active region are increased. It is established experimentally that, in the temperature range of 20–140°C, the stimulated quantum yield remains unchanged. It is shown that the temperature delocalization of charge carriers leads to an increase in the carrier concentration in the waveguide layers of the laser heterostructure. The total increase in internal optical losses due to scattering by free charge carriers in the layers of the active region and waveguide layers of the laser heterostructure leads to a decrease in the differential quantum efficiency and to saturation of the watt-ampere characteristic of semiconductor lasers in the continuous lasing mode.     

Analysis of quenching conditions of Fabry-Perot mode lasing in semiconductor stripe-contact lasers

Radiative characteristics of semiconductor stripe-contact lasers operating under quenching conditions of Fabry-Perot-mode lasing are studied. It is found that reversible turning off of Fabry-Perot-mode lasing is caused by switching to closed-mode lasing. Radiative characteristics of the closed mode are controlled by the mode structure with the close-to-zero loss for radiation output, which covers the entire crystal. The main threshold conditions of closed-mode lasing are a decrease in interband absorption in the passive region and an increase in the modal gain of the closed-mode lasing line. It is shown that a decrease in interband absorption in the passive region can be provided by both spontaneous emission from the injection region and lasing-mode photons. An increase in the modal gain of the closed-mode lasing line is provided by shifting the energy minima of the conduction band and maxima of the valence band of the injection region with respect to the energy bands of the passive region.     

Analysis of threshold conditions for generation of a closed mode in a Fabry-Perot semiconductor laser

Threshold conditions for generation of a closed mode in the crystal of the Fabry-Perot semiconductor laser with a quantum-well active region are analyzed. It is found that main parameters affecting the closed mode lasing threshold for the chosen laser heterostructure are as follows: the optical loss in the passive region, the optical confinement factor of the closed mode in the gain region, and material gain detuning. The relations defining the threshold conditions for closed mode lasing in terms of optical and geometrical characteristics of the semiconductor laser are derived. It is shown that the threshold conditions can be satisfied at a lower material gain in comparison with the Fabry-Perot cavity mode due to zero output loss for the closed mode.     

Study of the Spatial and Current Dynamics of Optical Loss in Semiconductor Laser Heterostructures by Optical Probing

Semiconductors - The spatial and temporal dynamics of the optical loss and carrier density in the heterostructure of a semiconductor laser with a segmented contact are studied using an optical...     

An Experimental Investigation of the Dynamics of On-State Propagation in Low-Voltage Laser Thyristors Based on AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs Heterostructures

Technical Physics Letters - A method of determining the spatiotemporal dynamics of current in semiconductor heterostructures is proposed that is based on the modulation of external probing...     

All-optical modulator cells based on AlGaAs/GaAs/InGaAs 905-nm laser heterostructures

All-optical cells based on AlGaAs/GaAs/InGaAs laser heterostructures for a 905-nm wavelength have been developed, which operate in the regime of optical-power modulation by means of controlled generation switching between the Fabry–Perot cavity modes and high-Q closed mode. At a modulated power of 1.6 W, a mode-switching time of 1.2 ns and smaller is achieved.

     

Pulsed semiconductor lasers with higher optical strength of cavity output mirrors

Asymmetric heterostructures with an ultrathick waveguide based on an AlGaAs/GaAs alloy system that allow lasing at a wavelength of 905 nm have been developed and fabricated by hydride metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy. The internal optical loss and internal quantum efficiency of semiconductor lasers based on such structures were 0.7 cm^-1 and 97%, respectively. It is shown that the highest output optical power of laser diodes with antireflecting (SiO₂) and reflecting (Si/SiO₂) coatings deposited on untreated Fabry-Perot cavity facets obtained by cleaving in an oxygen atmosphere reached 67 W in the pulsed mode and is limited by mirror damage. Treatment of Fabry-Perot cavity facets by etching in argon plasma and the formation of coatings with passivating and oxygen-blocking GaN and Si₃N₄ layers allowed an increase in the maximum output optical power to 120 W. Mirror damage was not observed at the attained output optical power.     

Analysis of the emission efficiency of powerful semiconductor lasers under closed-mode threshold lasing conditions

A new model describing the decrease in the emission efficiency and optical output power of a semiconductor laser above the lasing threshold of the Fabry-Perot mode is suggested. The mechanism of deterioration of the output-power characteristics is described in the suggested model in terms of the achievement of closed-mode threshold conditions. Rate equations are used to analyze how the closed-mode threshold conditions are satisfied in semiconductor lasers.     

AlGaAs/GaAs diode lasers (1020–1100 nm) with an asymmetric broadened single transverse mode waveguide

Approaches to the development of laser heterostructures with a broadened single-mode waveguide are studied theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that the use of n- and p-type emitters with different refractive-index values ensures lasing in the fundamental mode only, if the thickness of the waveguide layer is 2 μm. The studied semiconductor lasers fabricated using the developed heterostructure feature internal optical losses amounting to 0.6 cm^?1; the divergence in the plane perpendicular to the p-n junction is 23°. In the continuous lasing mode at room temperature, a linear power-current characteristic is obtained at an output optical power as high as 7 W.     

Temperature delocalization of charge carriers in semiconductor lasers

The temperature dependences of emission characteristics are investigated for laser diodes based on asymmetric separate-confinement heterostructures with a broadened waveguide. It is established that an increase in the charge-carrier concentration in the waveguide layer is the basic mechanism of saturation in the light-current characteristic with increasing temperature in the CW mode. It is experimentally shown that the temperature delocalization of charge carriers leads to increasing internal optical losses and decreasing external differential quantum efficiency. It is shown that the degree of delocalization of charge carriers depends on the charge-carrier temperature distribution, the threshold concentration, and the quantum-well depth. The effect of thickness and energy depth of the quantum well on the temperature sensitivity of the threshold current and output optical power is considered.