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Low threshold photopumped Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As quantum-well heterostructure lasers

Journal Article · · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.332335· OSTI ID:6224094

Data are presented on very low threshold photopumped separate-confinement quantum-well heterostructure (SC QWH) lasers grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). An unusually thin single quantum well (size L/sub z/< or approx. = 60 A) is employed in the QWH with the carriers confined (''trapped'') in the interior ''cladding'' region, which serves also as the optical waveguide. Excess carriers, which are photogenerated (or injected), are confined in the thin interior cladding region (size L/sub z/' approx.1000 A) and, in this charge reservoir and waveguide region, are thermionically ''emitted'' back and forth across the well until scattered to lower energy in the well (..delta..Eapprox.h..omega../sub LO/) and collected. Continuous (cw) 300 K photopumed laser operation of these QWH's is demonstrated for very short cavities. For one QWH wafer laser operation occurs at lambdaapprox.7730 A with a photopumping threshold of 380 W/cm/sup 2/ (J/sub eq/ approx.160 A/cm/sup 2/) and for another wafer at lambdaapprox.7000 A with threshold 10/sup 3/ W/cm/sup 2/(J/sub eq/approx. 410 A/cm/sup 2/). The photopumped samples are as small as 20 x 40 ..mu..m, thus making these laser thresholds (for such short cavity lengths) a factor of 3--10 better than the lowest previously reported.

Research Organization:
Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, Palo Alto, California 94304
OSTI ID:
6224094
Journal Information:
J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 54:5; ISSN JAPIA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English