Room temperature continuous wave operation of 1.33-μm InAs/GaAs quantum dot laser with high output power

Continuous wave operation of a semiconductor laser diode based on five stacks of InAs quantum dots (QDs) embedded within strained InGaAs quantum wells as an active region is demonstrated. At room temperature, 355-Mw output power at ground state of 1.33-1.35μm for a 20-μm ridge-waveguide laser without facet coating is achieved. By optimizing the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth conditions,the QD density per layer is raised to 4 × 1010 cm-2. The laser keeps lasing at ground state until the temperature reaches 65 ℃.     

Room temperature photoreflectance of MOCVD-grown InAs/GaAs quantum dots

Photoreflectance spectroscopy results are reported for InAs/GaAs self-organised quantum dots grown by low-pressure MOCVD. Quantum dot-related optical transitions have been observed for the first time at room temperature. Good agreement between experiment and theory based on a recent 8-band k·p theory has been obtained.     

The I-V characteristics of InAs/GaAs quantum dot laser

The I-V characteristics of an InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) laser diode have been investigated under both the high and low input current conditions. Under the low current condition, the I-V curve obeys the Shockley equation, from which the forbidden energy gap of the junction can be derived. On the other hand, in the high current range, the I-V characteristics violate the Shockley equation and the device tends to operate as a resistance. In addition, the I-V curve can be used to fit the temperature coefficient of the forward voltage, which is a critical parameter for determining the junction temperature of the laser diode.     

InAs/GaAs quantum dot infrared photodetectors with different growth temperatures

InAs/GaAs quantum dot infrared photodetectors were fabricated with quantum dots grown at three different temperatures. Large detection wavelength shift (5–14.5 μm) was demonstrated by changing 40 degrees of the epitaxy temperature. The smaller quantum dots grown at lower temperature generate 14.5 μm responses. The detectivity of the normal incident 15 μm QDIP at 77 K is 3 × 10⁸ cm Hz^1/2/W. A three-color detector was also demonstrated with quantum dots grown at medium temperature. The three-color detection comes from two groups of different sizes of dots within one QD layer. This new type of multicolor detector shows unique temperature tuning behavior that was never reported before.     

Optical spectroscopy of a single InAs/GaAs quantum dot in high magnetic fields

We report on the measurements of the photoluminescence from the s-shell of a single InAs/GaAs quantum dot in magnetic fields up to 23 T. The observed multiline emission is attributed to different charge states of a single dot. Characteristic anticrossing of emission lines is explained in terms of hybridization of final states of a triply charged exciton (X⁻³).     

Raman study of InAs/GaAs quantum dot solar cells

We report polarized and resonant Raman study of InAs/GaAs quantum dot solar cell (QDSC) structures. Raman spectra obtained from the top surfaces of the samples suggested that the formation of InAs QDs induced tensile strain in the overgrown GaAs layers. Furthermore, a longitudinal optical phonon-plasmon (LPP) coupled modes were observed in the p-type GaAs layers. The tensile strain was increased with an increase in the QD size. The hole concentrations estimated by fitting the individual LPP coupled modes were in the range of 2.4–3.5 × 10¹⁸ cm^?3. Resonant Raman spectra obtained from the cleaved sides, where the QDs were located, showed a 225 cm^?1 mode in parallel polarization configurations. Based on accurate analysis, this mode was identified as the LA(X) phonon of GaAs.     

Self-organized formation of shell-like InAs/GaAs quantum dot ensembles

Formation of a multimodal quantum dot (QD) ensemble by strained layer epitaxy of InAs on GaAs near the critical value for the onset of the 2D-3D transition is studied. Reflection anisotropy spectroscopy is employed to confirm that a smooth surface is maintained during strained layer growth prior to QD formation. Instantaneous capping after deposition leads to InAs quantum wells with some thickness flucuations. Multimodal QD InAs ensembles form after an at least short growth interruption prior to cap layer deposition. The QDs consist of pure InAs with heights varying in steps of complete InAs monolayers. Related exciton energies indicate a simultaneous increase of both height and lateral extension, i.e. a shell-like increase of sizes. The formation of the multimodal QD ensemble is described by a kinetic approach. A growth scenario is presented where QDs having initially shorter base length stop vertical growth at a smaller height, accounting for the experimentally observed shell-like sub-ensemble structure.     

The strain relaxation of InAs/GaAs self-organized quantum dot

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the dependence of degree of strain relaxation of the self-organized InAs/GaAs quantum dot on the geometrical parameters. Differently shaped quantum dots arranged with different transverse periods are simulated in this analysis. It investigates the total residual strain energy that stored in the quantum dot and the substrate for all kinds of quantum dots with the same volume, as well as the dependence on both the aspect ratio and transverse period. The calculated results show that when the transverse period is larger than two times the base of the quantum dots, the influence of transverse periods can be ignored. The larger aspect ratio will lead more efficient strain relaxation. The larger angle between the faces and the substrate will lead more efficient strain relaxation. The obtained results can help to understand the shape transition mechanism during the epitaxial growth from the viewpoint of energy, because the strain relaxation is the main driving force of the quantum dot's self-organization.     

Current instabilities in GaAs/InAs self-aggregated quantum dot structures

Excess current was obtained in GaAs/InAs quantum dot structures at low temperatures and low current levels. This excess current exhibited instabilities with changing the bias, and over the time. It has been concluded that the excess current is a minority injection current connected with recombination through defects originated from the formation of QDs. The instabilities are connected with unstable occupation of energy levels induced by the above defects, which depend on temperature and on the current level.     

Electron radiation effects on InAs/GaAs quantum dot lasers

The InAs/GaAs quantum dot laser diodes and corresponding quantum dot samples are irradiated by 1 MeV electron. The laser performance and quantum dot photoluminescence intensity at room temperature are enhanced over a fluence range of 4 × 10¹³ cm^?2. The radiation-induced defects increase the efficiency of carrier transfer to the quantum dots, which results in the improvement of photoluminescence performance under low level displacement damage. The contact resistant of quantum dot lasers decreases because the ohmic contact is also improved by electron irradiation.     

Dependence on temperature of homogeneous broadening of InGaAs/InAs/GaAs quantum dot fundamental transitions

We report systematic temperature-dependent measurements of photoluminescence spectra in self-assembled InGaAs/InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs). We have studied the rise in temperature of the ground-state homogeneous linewidth.A theoretical model is presented and accounts for the phonon-assisted broadening of this transition in individual QD. We have estimated the homogeneous linewidth of an individual QD from PL spectra of self-organized InAs/GaAs QDs by isolating the PL of each individual QD and fitting the narrow line associated with self-organized QDs through a Lorentzian convoluted by a Gaussian. We have observed a strong exciton–LO–phonon coupling (γ_LO) which becomes the dominating contribution to the linewidth above the temperature of 45 K. We have also derived the activation energy (ΔE) of the exciton–LO–phonon coupling, zero temperature linewidth (Γ₀) and the exciton-LA-phonon coupling parameter (γ_Ac). We report that our values are close to the values found in the literature for single InGaAs QD and InAs QD.     

含有AlGaAs插入层的InAs/GaAs三色量子点红外探测器

本文报道了采用分子束外延技术制备的三色InAs/GaAs量子点红外探测器. 器件采用nin型结构, 吸收区结构是在InGaAs量子阱中生长含有AlGaAs插入层的InAs量子点, 器件在77 K下的红外光电流谱有三个峰值: 6.3, 10.2和11 μm. 文中分析了它们的跃迁机制, 并且分别进行了指认. 因为有源区采用了不对称结构, 所以器件在外加偏压正负方向不同时, 光电流谱峰值的强度存在一些差异. 不论在正偏压或者负偏压下, 当偏压达到较高值, 再进一步增大偏压时, 都出现了对应于连续态的跃迁峰强度明显下降的现象, 这是由量子点基态与阱外连续态的波函数交叠随着偏压进一步增大而迅速减小导致的.     

GaAs基InAs量子点中类氢杂质的束缚能

在有效质量近似下,采用微扰法研究了InAs/GaAs量子点内类氢杂质基态及低激发态的束缚能.受限势采用抛物形势,在二维平面极坐标下,精确地求解了电子的薛定谔方程.数值计算结果表明,类氢杂质基态及低激发态的束缚能敏感地依赖于抛物形势的角频率,受类氢杂质的影响,谱线发生蓝移.这一结果对设计和制备量子点器件是有价值的.     

The improvement of InAs/GaAs quantum dot properties capped by Graphene

InAs self‐assembled quantum dots (QDs) were grown by molecular beam epitaxy on (001) GaAs substrate. Uncapped and capped QDs with GaAs and graphene layers were studied using atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Graphene multi‐layer was grown by chemical vapor deposition and transferred on InAs/GaAs QDs. It is well known that the presence of a cap layer modifies the size, shape, and density of the QDs. According to the atomic force microscopy study, in contrast to the GaAs capped sample, which induce a dramatic decrease of the density and height of dots, graphene cap layer sample presents a slight influence on the surface morphology and the density of the islands compared with the uncapped one. The difference shown in the Raman spectra of the samples is due to change of strain and alloy disorder effects on the QDs. Residuals strain and the relaxation coefficients have been investigated. All results confirm the best crystalline quality of the graphene cap layer dots sample relative to the GaAs capped one. So graphene can be used to replace GaAs in capping InAs/GaAs dots. To our knowledge, such study has not been carried out until now. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Room temperature efficient continuous wave and Q-switched operation of a Ho:YAP laser

We report the continuous wave and acousto-optically Q-switched operation of a Tm:YLF-pumped Ho:YAP laser at room temperature. Continuous wave output power of 6.8 W at 2118 nm was obtained under the incident pump power of 13.4 W, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 65.6% and a conversion efficiency of 50.7%. For the Q-switched mode, a maximum pulse energy of 1.28 mJ and a minimum pulse width of 31 ns at the repetition rate of 5 kHz were achieved, resulting in a peak power of 41.3 kW. In addition, the Ho:YAP laser was employed as a pumping source of ZGP optical parametric oscillator, the total average output power of which was 3.2 W at 4.08 and 4.41 μm with a slope efficiency of 69.5%, corresponding to the diode-to-mid-IR conversion efficiency of 9.0%.     

Temperature dependent characteristics of InAs/GaAs quantum dot laser grown by gas source molecular beam epitaxy

We report on the temperature dependent lasing characteristics of InAs/GaAs quantum dot lasers under continuous wave mode. The five-stacked InAs quantum dots were grown by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy with slightly different thickness. Ridge waveguide laser with stripe width of 6 μm was processed on the growth structure. The characteristic temperature was measured as high as infinity in the temperature range of 80–180 k. With the increase of injection current, the lasing spectra of laser diode broaden gradually at low temperature of 80 k. However, when the operation temperature increases from 80 to 300 K, the width of lasing spectrum reduces gradually from 40 to 2.0 nm. The lasing process is obviously different from that of a reference quantum well laser which widens its width of lasing spectra by increasing operation temperature. These experiments demonstrate that a carrier transfer from the smaller size of dots into larger dots caused by thermal effect play an important role in the lasing characteristic of quantum dot lasers. In addition, the laser can operate at maximum temperature of 80 °C under continuous wave mode with a maximum output power of 52 mW from one facet at 20 °C. A wavelength thermal coefficient of 0.196 nm/K is obtained, which is 2.8 times lower than that of QW laser. The low wavelength thermal coefficient of quantum dot laser is mainly attributed to its broad gain profile and state filling effects.     

Hydrostatic pressure effects on impurity states in InAs/GaAs quantum dot

Within the framework of effective-mass approximation, the hydrostatic pressure effects on the donor binding energy of a hydrogenic impurity in InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dot(QD) are investigated by means of a variational method. Numerical results show that the donor binding energy increases when the hydrostatic pressure increases for any impurity position and QD size. Moreover, the hydrostatic pressure has a remarkable influence on the donor binding energy for small QD. Realistic cases, including the impurity in the QD and the surrounding barrier, are considered.     

InAs/GaAs submonolayer quantum dot superluminescent diode emitting around 970 nm

According to the InAs/GaAs submonolayer quantum dot active region, we demonstrate a bent-waveguide superluminescent diode emitting at a wavelength of around 970 nm. At a pulsed injection current of 0.5 A, the device exhibits an output power of 24 mW and an emission spectrum centred at 971 nm with a full width at half maximum of 16 nm.     

脉冲激光原位辐照对InAs/GaAs(001)量子点生长的影响

在InAs/GaAs(001)量子点生长过程中, 当InAs沉积量为0.9 ML时, 利用紫外纳秒脉冲激光辐照浸润层表面, 由于高温下In原子的不稳定性, 激光诱导的原子脱附效应被放大, 样品表面出现了原子层移除和纳米孔. 原子力显微镜测试表明纳米孔呈现以[110]方向为长轴(尺寸: 20-50 nm)、[110]方向为短轴(尺寸: 15-40 nm)的表面椭圆开口形状, 孔的深度为0.5-3 nm. 纳米孔的密度与脉冲激光的能量密度正相关. 脉冲激光的辐照对量子点生长产生了显著的影响: 一方面由于纳米孔的表面自由能低, 沉积的InAs优先迁移到孔内, 纳米孔成为量子点优先成核的位置; 另一方面, 孔外的区域因为In原子的脱附, 量子点的成核被抑制. 由于带有纳米孔的浸润层表面具有类似于传统微纳加工技术制备的图形衬底对量子点选择性生长的功能, 该研究为量子点的可控生长提供了一种新的思路.     

Two-color two-photon Rabi oscillation of biexciton in single InAs/GaAs quantum dot

A two-photon absorption resonance is observed when the sum-frequency of two laser pulses equals the creation energy of a biexciton in a single InAs/GaAs semiconductor quantum dot. Resonant excitation of the two-color two-photon transition results in a coherent oscillation that is remarkably similar to a single-color two-photon Rabi oscillation of the crystal-ground to biexciton optical transition. A model explaining the coherent two-photon absorption is presented.