Long wavelength quantum well lasers: synopsis of the RACE AQUA project on high speed MQW-DFB lasers

Work being done within the RACE program, a major European Community action aimed at integrated broadband telecommunications, under the Advanced Quantum Well Lasers for Multigigabit Transmission Systems (AQUA) project, is discussed. Two main objectives of the AQUA project are outlined: the realization of ultra-high-speed lasers and ultra-high-speed optoelectronic devices, and the realization of advanced devices based on quantum well (QW) materials. Results are presented concerning: the epitaxial growth of QW materials in the InGaAsP and InGaAlAs system lattice matched to InP: the development of high speed laser structures with reduced parasitics; the realization of QW distributed feedback (DFB) lasers, demonstrating the expected performance enhancement due to QW effects: and the system related tests of such devices