Effect of inter-level relaxation and cavity length on double-state lasing performance of quantum dot lasers

Double-state lasing phenomena are easily observed in self-assembled quantum dot (QD) lasers. The effect of inter-level relaxation rate and cavity length on the double-state lasing performance of QD lasers is investigated on the basis of a rate equation model. Calculated results show that, for a certain cavity length, the ground state (GS) lasing threshold current increases almost linearly with the inter-level relaxation lifetime. However, as the relaxation rate becomes slower, the ratio of excited state (ES) lasing threshold current over the GS one decreases, showing an evident exponential behavior. A relatively feasible method to estimate the inter-level relaxation lifetime, which is difficult to measure directly, is provided. In addition, fast inter-level relaxation is favorable for the GS single-mode lasing, and leads to lower wetting layer (WL) carrier occupation probability and higher QD GS capture efficiency and external differential quantum efficiency. Besides, the double-state lasing effect strongly depends on the cavity length.     

Dissipative solitons in quantum dot lasers

The spatiotemporal dynamics of radiation in wide-aperture semiconductor quantum-dot lasers is studied analytically and numerically. It was found that the choice of relatively rapid amplifying layers with quantum dots of a small size and slow absorbing layers with a maximal rate of exciton capture from wetting layers is optimal for the stability of spatial dissipative solitons in a single-longitudinal-mode laser. A large relaxation time of the slow absorber was found to result in a substantial decrease in the sensitivity of solitons to the tilt of the mirrors, which increases their stability and gives real chances of the experimental revealing of laser solitons.     

Impact of gain compression on modulation response and dynamic properties of three state lasing InGaAs/GaAs quantum dot lasers

In this paper, we have theoretically studied dynamics of a semiconductor quantum dot (QD) laser for enhancing its small signal and large signal modulation as a function of compression gain. We have considered InGaAs/GaAs QD laser rate equations and solved this equation system numerically. We have revealed that a diminution in compression gain leads to an improvement in frequency bandwidth for this three state lasing system. We also have calculated turn on delay and output power that obviously indicates the effect of compression gain on relaxation oscillations.     

Stability properties of current-profiled quantum dot lasers

The stability properties of injection-current profiled quantum dot lasers are analyzed for broad area devices of different length. In general, devices demonstrate stable output at low to moderate injection levels before the onset of filamentary dynamics at higher injection levels. By comparing devices of different lengths, the onset of filamentary dynamics is shown to coincide in each case with the onset of excited state lasing and so the loss in stability may be linked to the increased low frequency noise and phase-amplitude coupling that occurs in this regime.     

Thresholds of quasi-supercontinuum interband quantum dot lasers

We present the analysis of threshold conditions that produces wideband- stimulated emission in semiconductor quantum-dot laser. Our theoretical model reveals critical occurrence of broadband lasing when the energy spacing between quantized energy states (ΔE) is comparable to the inhomogeneous broadening of quantum dot nanostructures.     

Theory of single-mode lasing in coherent quantum cascade lasers

A theory is developed for steady-state single-mode lasing in coherent quantum-well cascade lasers. This laser model is an example of a strictly quantum mechanical problem in which approximate kinetic approaches are not used to account for dissipative scattering processes. Exact wave functions are found for the system in weak and strong electromagnetic fields, so that the output power and frequency can be determined as functions of the coherent pump current and system parameters. It is shown that for pumping by monoenergetic electrons the power has a nonlinear (root) dependence and tends to saturate in strong fields. It is predicted that the coherent pumping efficiency may be increased by adjusting the energy of the pump electrons, which will lead to a linear power dependence, a high efficiency, and low threshold currents. A population inversion is found not be a necessary condition for lasing in the coherent laser. In particular, in the high field regime the population of the lower level exceeds that of the upper, while in the optimally adjusted regime they are the same. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 483–498 (August 1997)     

Proton radiation effects in quantum dot lasers

Proton beams with energies of 10 and 200 MeV were irradiated onto InAs quantum dot lasers with a wavelength of 1.3 μm. The increase in threshold current by proton irradiation was small compared with those of the previously reported other quantum dot lasers with larger active region and 1.3-μm InGaAsP quantum well lasers. These results were discussed by taking account of non-ionizing energy loss and effective volume of active region.     

Simulation of characteristics of broadband quantum dot lasers

Authors theoretically present the characterization of the multiple states broadband InGaAs/GaAs quantum-dot lasers that agrees well with the measured data. Based on the derived model, this new class of semiconductor laser is further characterized theoretically to gain an idea of the derivative characteristic such as linewidth enhancement factor in providing a picture of the competency of this novel device for diverse applications.     

Beam properties of injection profiled quantum dot lasers

The impact of injection current profiling on the spatial mode structure of quantum dot semiconductor lasers is investigated. Numerical simulations based on a spatial extension of a simple rate equation model for quantum dot devices reveal the role of non-resonant carries in the appearance of strong dips in the optical field of the device. Symmetry breaking may also occur whereby the position of the dip shifts from the centre of the injection region.     

A review of external cavity-coupled quantum dot lasers

Since the external cavity quantum dot laser was first demonstrated, the performances have been improved in terms of operation temperature, output power, pulse generator and tuneability based on the naturally size fluctuation of quantum dot. Nowadays, the external cavity quantum dot sources have been successfully used in different absorption spectroscope techniques, in industry, biomedical and research. In this paper we reviewed the recent developments of quantum dot lasers operated in a grating-coupled external cavity system where a single frequency and wide tunable wavelength range were easily obtained by adjusting the grating angle. In all cases, we mainly stressed the significant progresses in understanding of basic optical and electronic properties to enable the importance steps forward. The prospects for further progress directed towards stability, mode-hoping-free tuning range, miniaturization and integration of the external cavity quantum dot lasers also reviewed.     

Nanostructure model and optical properties of InAs/GaAs quantum dot in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

We apply 8-band k.p model to study InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs). The strain was calculated using the valence force field (VFF) model which includes the four nearest-neighbour interactions. For the optical properties, we take into account both homogeneous and non-homogeneous broadening for the optical spectrum. Our simulation result is in good agreement with the experimental micro-photoluminescence (μ-PL) result which is from InAs/GaAs QD vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) structure wafer at room temperature. Accordingly, our simulation model is used to predict the QD emission from this QD-VCSELs structure wafer at different temperature ranging from 200–400 K. The simulation results show a decrease of 41 meV of QD ground state (GS) transition energy from 250–350 K. The changes of QDGS transition energy with different temperature indicate the possible detuning range for 1.3-μm wave band QD-VCSELs applications without temperature control. Furthermore, QD differential gain at 300 K is computed based on this model, which will be useful for predicting the intrinsic modulation characteristics of QD-VCSELs.     

Nonlinear dynamics of doped semiconductor quantum dot lasers

We discuss the influence of wetting layer doping on the turn-on dynamics of a quantum dot (QD) laser by using a microscopically based rate equation model which separately treats the dynamics of electrons and holes. As the carrier-carrier scattering rates depend nonlinearly on the wetting layer carrier densities we observe drastic changes of relaxation oscillation frequency and damping if the wetting layer is doped. We gain insight into the nonlinear dynamics of the QD laser by a detailed analysis of various sections of the five-dimensional phase space focusing on changes in the coupling between QD electron and holes dynamics.     

Surface-structure-assisted chaotic mode lasing in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

We demonstrate chaotic mode lasing in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers at room temperature, with an open cavity confined laterally by the native oxide layer. Instead of introducing any defect mode, we show that suppression of lower-order cavity modes can be achieved by destroying vertical reflectors with a surface microstructure. Lasing on chaotic modes is observed directly through collecting near-field radiation patterns. Various vertical emission transverse modes are identified by the spectrum in experiments as well as numerical simulations in real and phase spaces.     

位移效应对量子点激光器的性能影响

从理论上分析了位移效应对量子点激光器的影响, 并推导了量子点激光器阈值电流相对变化、输出功率相对变化的位移损伤公式. 对量子点激光器进行了中子辐照实验, 观察到了阈值电流的增加. 结合实验结果确定了量子点载流子非辐射复合速率的损伤因子的表达式, 公式计算结果与实验结果符合较好, 证明了模型的正确性. 得到的公式可用于预测量子点激光器在辐射环境下的性能变化, 有着较大实际应用价值. 关键词： 量子点激光器 位移损伤 缺陷     

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.     

Bloch-wave engineering of quantum dot micropillars for cavity quantum electrodynamics experiments

We have employed Bloch-wave engineering to realize submicron diameter high quality factor GaAs/AlAs micropillars (MPs). The design features a tapered cavity in which the fundamental Bloch mode is subject to an adiabatic transition to match the Bragg mirror Bloch mode. The resulting reduced scattering loss leads to record-high vacuum Rabi splitting of the strong coupling in MPs with modest oscillator strength quantum dots. A quality factor of 13,?600 and a splitting of 85 μeV with an estimated visibility v of 0.41 are observed for a small mode volume MP with a diameter d{c} of 850 nm.     

二维量子点中极化子的自旋弛豫

在考虑Rashba自旋-轨道耦合的条件下, 采用二次幺正变换和变分方法研究了二维抛物量子点中由于电子与体纵光学声子的耦合作用形成的极化子在基态Zeeman分裂能级上的自旋弛豫过程.这一过程主要是通过吸收或发射一个形变势或压电声学声子完成.具体分析了强、弱耦合两种极限下极化子自旋弛豫率与外磁场、量子点半径、Landau因子参数、Rashba自旋轨道耦合参数的变化关系. 关键词： 自旋弛豫 极化子 Rashba自旋轨道耦合 量子点     

Observation of phonon bottleneck in quantum dot electronic relaxation

Time-resolved differential transmission measurements of self-assembled In0.4Ga0.6As quantum dots clearly indicate a phonon bottleneck between the n = 2 and n = 1 electronic levels. The key to this observation is the generation of electrons in dots where there are no holes so that electron-hole scattering does not mask the bottleneck. We use a simple carrier capture model consisting of two capture configurations to explain the bottleneck signal and offer arguments to rule out other possible sources of the signal.     

Electrical control of spin relaxation in a quantum dot

We demonstrate electrical control of the spin relaxation time T1 between Zeeman-split spin states of a single electron in a lateral quantum dot. We find that relaxation is mediated by the spin-orbit interaction, and by manipulating the orbital states of the dot using gate voltages we vary the relaxation rate W identical withT1(-1) by over an order of magnitude. The dependence of W on orbital confinement agrees with theoretical predictions, and from these data we extract the spin-orbit length. We also measure the dependence of W on the magnetic field and demonstrate that spin-orbit mediated coupling to phonons is the dominant relaxation mechanism down to 1 T, where T1 exceeds 1 s.     

Zeeman energy and spin relaxation in a one-electron quantum dot

We have measured the relaxation time, T1, of the spin of a single electron confined in a semiconductor quantum dot (a proposed quantum bit). In a magnetic field, applied parallel to the two-dimensional electron gas in which the quantum dot is defined, Zeeman splitting of the orbital states is directly observed by measurements of electron transport through the dot. By applying short voltage pulses, we can populate the excited spin state with one electron and monitor relaxation of the spin. We find a lower bound on T1 of 50 micros at 7.5 T, only limited by our signal-to-noise ratio. A continuous measurement of the charge on the dot has no observable effect on the spin relaxation.