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Phonon contribution to metalorganic chemical vapor deposited Al/sub x/ Ga/sub 1-x/As-GaAs quantum-well heterostructure laser operation

Journal Article · · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.328786· OSTI ID:6827098

A series of experiments have been conducted to determine the extent of longitudinal optical (LO) phonon contribution to quantum-well-heterostructure (QWH) laser opertion. Extensive data are presented on metalorganic chemical vapor deposited (MO-CVD) Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/ As-GaAs QWH's with active regions consisting of larger quantum wells, or in some cases bulk layers (L/sub z/>500 A), coupled to phonon-generating and -reflecting arrays of coupled smaller quantum wells. Because of the electronic and vibrational coupling of the single larger layer to the array, the spontaneous emission and laser emission from these structures differ from that of QWH's containing either a single well or a multilayer of uniform well thickness. In fact, phonon sideband laser operation of the larger GaAs layer can be induced at h..omega..approx.E/sub g/-h..omega../sub LO/ (undoped layers, n/sub d/-n/sub a/< or approx. =10/sup 15/ /cm/sup 3/). An increase in either the thermal or nonthermal phonon occupation number is shown to cause phonon sideband laser operation in a QWH. A guide to the design of the multilayer array also is presented.

Research Organization:
Department of Electrical Engineering and Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
OSTI ID:
6827098
Journal Information:
J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 52:2; ISSN JAPIA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English