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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Wavelength tuning of multiple quantum well (MQW) heterostructure lasers

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5611292
This patent describes a wavelength tunable semiconductor laser comprising a plurality of contiguous semiconductor layers deposited on a substrate, one of the layers being an active region comprising a multiple quantum well configuration having two or more quantum wells separated by barriers wherein the wells are capable of quantization of electron states and having more than one energy band, means to tune the laser to any wavelength represented by subband electron/hole states established within the well energy bands, the elemental composition of the wells or of the barriers or both is sequentially changed across the active region to increase the number of allowable subbands between the energy bands and correspondingly increase the tuning wavelength selectivity of the laser.
Assignee:
Xerox Corp., Stamford, CT
Patent Number(s):
US 4839899
OSTI ID:
5611292
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English