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Room temperature intrinsic optical transition in GaN epilayers: The band-to-band versus excitonic transitions

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.119813· OSTI ID:656126
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Physics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506-2601 (United States)
  2. APA Optics Inc., Blaine, Minnesota 55449 (United States)

The mechanism of room-temperature (RT) intrinsic optical transition in high quality and purity GaN epilayer grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) has been investigated. Our results show that the band-to-band instead of excitonic transition is the dominant transition in MOCVD grown GaN epilayer at RT. This conclusion is supported by the observation of the excitation intensity dependence of the photoluminescence emission peak position and by a model calculation. The band-to-band transition energy at RT at the limit of low carrier concentration has been determined to be 3.429 eV. Since the band-to-band transition is the dominant optical transition at RT, it thus suggests that the electron-hole plasma is most likely responsible for gain in GaN blue lasers similar to the case in other III{endash}V semiconductor lasers. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

DOE Contract Number:
FG03-96ER45604
OSTI ID:
656126
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 71; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English