Three-terminal DOES lasers with exceptionally low threshold currents

Summary form only given. The double-heterostructure optoelectronic switch (DOES) structure is an attractive device for optical computing and optical signal processing functions. These devices have recently been demonstrated with a third terminal contact to the inversion channel, which provides a high-impedance input node and allows fast switching for both on and off transitions. Using the third terminal, the electrical turn-on delay is 350 ps and switching into and out of the upper lasing state to 1.4I_th was measured with delay plus transition times of 200 ps, corresponding to the limiting speed of the 10 μm inversion channel. The source in/out current was 5 mA and switching into lasing was achieved to 1.75I_th