Quantum box fabrication tolerance and size limits in semiconductors and their effect on optical gain

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/3.157· OSTI ID:7245951

Vahala, K J

Lower and upper limits on size are established for quantum boxes. The lower limit is shown to result from a critical size below which bound electronic states no longer exist. This critical size is different for electrons and holes. The optical gain of arrays of quantum boxes is computed taking into account the inhomogeneous broadening of the gain spectrum resulting from fabricational variations in quantum box size and shape. The dependence of maximum possible gain on an rms quantum box roughness amplitude is determined. For high gain operation a medium composed of quantum boxes does not offer significant advantages over a conventional bulk semiconductor unless quantum box fabricational tolerances are tightly controlled. For low gain operation, however, arrays of quantum boxes may offer the unique advantage of optical transparency at zero excitation. This property does not require excellent fabricational control and may make possible ultralow threshold semiconductor lasers and low noise optical amplifiers.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (US)
• OSTI ID: 7245951
• Journal Information: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States) Vol. 24:3; ISSN IEJQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
AMPLIFICATION
AMPLITUDES
ENERGY
FABRICATION
GAIN
LASERS
MATERIALS
MECHANICS
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OPTIMIZATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUANTUM MECHANICS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
THRESHOLD ENERGY