Will Quantum Dots Replace Quantum Wells As the Active Medium of Choice in Future Semiconductor Lasers?

Author

Chow, Weng W. ; Lorke, Michael ; Jahnke, Frank

Author_Institution

Sandia Nat. Labs., Albuquerque, NM, USA

Volume

17

Issue

5

fYear

2011

Firstpage

1349

Lastpage

1355

Abstract

The lasing capabilities and limitations of quantum dots are assessed using a first-principles theory with a rigorous treatment of relevant physics and without the free parameters plaguing predictive capabilities in usual gain calculations. Our results reveal quantitatively the extent the reduced threshold advantage is confronted with a larger sensitivity to saturation effects. Added to this intrinsic constraint is the present experimental performance limitation arising from inhomogeneous broadening due to growth fluctuations.

Keywords

ab initio calculations; fluctuations; optical saturation; quantum dot lasers; quantum well lasers; spectral line broadening; first-principles theory; free parameter plaguing predictive capabilities; gain calculations; inhomogeneous broadening; lasing capabilities; quantum dot lasers; quantum well lasers; saturation effects; semiconductor lasers; Charge carrier density; Laser theory; Luminescence; Nonhomogeneous media; Nonlinear optics; Semiconductor lasers; Semiconductor quantum-dot laser theory;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-260X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSTQE.2011.2157085

Filename

5771527