Phase-type quantum-dot-array diffraction grating

A novel phase-type quantum-dot-array diffraction grating (QDADG) is reported. In contrast to an earlier amplitude-type QDADG [C. Wang , Rev. Sci. Instrum. 78, 053503 (2007)], the new phase-type QDADG would remove the zeroth order diffraction at some certain wavelength, as well as suppressing the higher-order diffractions. In this paper, the basic concept, the fabrication, the calibration techniques, and the calibration results are presented. Such a grating can be applied in the research fields of beam splitting, laser probe diagnostics, and so on.

Single-photon-emitting diode at liquid nitrogen temperature

We report on the study of a single-photon-emitting diode at 77 K. The device is composed of InAs/GaAs quantum dots embedded in the i-region of a p-i-n diode structure. The high signal to noise ratio of the electroluminescence, as well as the small second order correlation function at zero-delay g((2))(0), implies that the device has a low multiphoton emission probability. By comparing the device performances under different excitation conditions, we have, in detail, discussed the basic parameters, such as signal to noise ratio and g((2))(0), and provided some useful information for the future application. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Spin states in semiconductor quantum dot with a single magnetic ion

We investigate theoretically CdTe quantum dots containing a single Mn2+ impurity, including the sp-d exchange interaction between carriers and the magnetic ion and the short-range exchange interaction between electron and hole. We find anticrossing behaviors in the energy spectrum of the electron-hole (e-h) pair that arise from the interplay between exchange interactions and the magnetic field. In addition to the s-d exchange interaction, we find that other mechanisms inducing the anticrossings become important in the strong heavy hole-light hole (hh-lh) mixing regime. The transition strengths between the states with spin projection of Mn2+ ion S-z not equal -5/2 (S-z = -5/2) decrease (increase) with increasing magnetic fields due to the alignment of the Mn2+ spin. The spin splitting of the e-h pair states depends sensitively on the external magnetic and electric field, which reveals useful information about the spin orientation and position of the magnetic ion. Meanwhile, the manipulation of the position of the magnetic ion offers us a way to control the spin splitting of the carriers. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High-power quantum-dot superluminescent LED with broadband drive current insensitive emission spectra using a tapered active region

High-power and broadband quantum-dot (QD) superluminescent light-emitting diodes are realized by using a combination of self-assembled QDs with a high density, large inhomogeneous broadening, a tapered angled pump region, and etched V groove structure. This broad-area device exhibits greater than 70-nm 3-dB bandwidth and drive current insensitive emission spectra with 100-mW output power under continuous-wave operation. For pulsed operation, greater than 200-mW output power is obtained.

Numerical analysis of gain saturation, noise figure, and carrier distribution for quantum-dot semiconductor-optical amplifiers

The gain saturation behaviors and noise figure are numerically analyzed for quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifiers (QD-SOAs). The carrier and photon distributions in the longitudinal direction as well as the photon energy dependent facet reflectivity are accounted in the rate equations, which are solved with output amplified spontaneous emission spectrum as iterative variables. The longitudinal distributions of the occupation probabilities and spectral-hole burning are presented for electrons in the excited and ground states of quantum dots. The saturation output power 19.7 dBm and device gain 20.6 dB are obtained for a QD-SOA with the cavity length of 6 rum at the bias current of 500 mA. The influences of them electron intradot relaxation time and the QD capture time on the gain spectrum are simulated with the relaxation time of 1, 30, and 60 ps and capture time of 1, 5, and 10 ps. The noise figure as low as 3.5 dB is expected due to the strong polarization sensitive spontaneous emission. The characteristics of gain saturation and noise figure versus input signal power for QD-SOAs are similar to that of semiconductor. linear optical amplifiers with gain clamping by vertical laser fields.

Optical properties of InGaAs/GaAs quantum chains

We have investigated the steady-state and transient optical properties of InGaAs/GaAs quantum chains and found that the photoluminescence (PL) decay time exhibits a strong photon energy dependence. It increases with the decrease of the emission energy. It is also found that the PL decay time increases with the excitation power. When the excitation power is large enough the PL decay time tends to be saturated. All these experimental results show that there is a strong carrier coupling along the chain direction in the quantum dot chain structure. The polarization PL measurements further confirm the carrier transfer process along the chain direction.

Size self-scaling effect in stacked InAs/InAlAs nanowire multilayers

Size self-scaling effect in stacked InAs/In0.52Al0.48As nanowires on InP substrates is revealed, i.e., the base width and height of the InAs nanowires have clear proportional dependence on thickness of the InAlAs spacer layer used in different samples. The photoluminescence wavelength from different samples, which varies between 1.3 and 1.9 mum, is also found closely correlated to the size self-scaling effect. This phenomenon can be well explained in the context of formation mechanism and growth features of the InAs/InAlAs nanowire arrays. The finding illustrates a degree of freedom to control the structural and optical properties of strained self-organized nanostructures. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.

The fabrication of self-aligned InAs nanostructures on GaAs(331)A substrates

Self-aligned InAs quantum wires (QWRs) or three-dimensional (3D) islands are fabricated on GaAs(331)A substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). InAs QWRs are selectively grown on the step edges formed by GaAs layers. The surface morphology of InAs nanostructures is carefully investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. Different growth conditions, such as substrate temperature, growth approaches, and InAs coverage, exert a great effect on the morphology of InAs islands. Low substrate temperatures favour the formation of wirelike nanostructures, while high substrate temperatures favour 3D islands. The shape transition is attributed to the trade-off between surface energy and strain energy. A qualitative agreement of our experimental data with the theoretical results derived from the model proposed by Tersoff and Tromp is achieved.

High-performance quantum-dot superluminescent diodes

By inclining the injection stripe of a multiple layer stacked self-assembled InAs quantum dot (SAQD) laser diode structure of 6degrees with respect to the facets, high-power and broad-band superluminescent diodes (SLDs) have been fabricated. It indicates that high-performance SLD could be easily realized by using SAQD as the active region.

Time-resolved photoluminescence of sub-monolayer InGaAs/GaAs quantum-dot-quantum-well heterostructures

Time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) of sub-monolayer (SML) InGaAs/GaAs quantum-dot-quantum-well heterostructures was measured at 5 K for the first time. The radiative lifetime of SML quantum dots (QDs) increases from 500 ps to 800 ps with the increase of the size of QDs, which is related to the small confinement energy of the excitons inside SML QDs and the exciton transfer from smaller QDs to larger ones through tunneling. The rise time of quantum-dot state PL signal strongly depends on the excitation power density. At low excitation power density, the rise time is about 35 ps, the mechanism of carrier capture is dominated by the emission of longitudinal-optical phonons. At high excitation power density, the rise time decreases as the excitation density increases, and Auger process plays an important role in the carrier capture. These results are very useful for understanding the working properties of sub-monolayer quantum-dot devices.

Design and analysis of 1.3 mu m GaAs-based quantum dot vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

A theoretical study on 1.3 mu m GaAs-based quantum dot vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) was made. Investigation of the influence of VCSELs on the optical confinement factors and the optical loss and the calculation of the material gain of the assembled InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots. Analysis of the threshold characteristic was made and the multi-wavelength cavity and multilayer quantum-dot stack structure is found to be more suitable for quantum dot VCSELs.

Tuning of detection wavelength in a resonant-cavity-enhanced quantum-dot-embedded photodiode by changing detection angle

We have fabricated a resonant-cavity-enhanced photodiode (RCE-PD) with InGaAs quantum dots (QDs) as an active medium. This sort of QD-embedded RCE-PD is capable of a peak external quantum efficiency of 32% and responsivity of 0.27A/W at 1.058 mu m with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 5 nm. Angle-resolved photocurrent response eventually proves that with the detection angle changing from 0 degrees to 60 degrees, the peak-current wavelength shifts towards the short wavelength side by 37 nm, while the quantum efficiency remains larger than 15%.

Growth of Ge quantum dot mediated by boron on Ge wetting layer

We, report on the influence of boron on the formation of Ge quantum dots. The investigated structure consists of a Ge wetting layer, on which a sub-monolayer boron is deposited and subsequently a Ge top layer. For sufficiently thin Ge top layers, the strain field induced by boron on Ge wetting layer destabilizes the Ge top layer and causes the formation of small Ge quantum dots. However, for thicker Ge top layers, boron on the Ge wetting layer diffuses into Ge layers, compensates partly the strain and delays the evolution of Ge quantum dots. By this method, small Ge quantum dots with high density as well as size uniformity can be formed by optimizing the growth condition. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Controlled growth of III-V compound semiconductor nano-structures and their application in quantum-devices

This paper reviews our work on controlled growth of self-assembled semiconductor nanostructures, and their application in light-emission devices. High-power, long-life quantum dots (QD) lasers emitting at similar to 1 mu m, red-emitting QD lasers, and long-wavelength QD lasers on GaAs substrates have successfully been achieved by optimizing the growth conditions of QDs.

Changing planar thin film growth into self-assembled island formation by adjusting experimental conditions

Illustrated in this paper are two examples of altering planar growth into self-assembled island formation by adapting experimental conditions. Partial oxidation, undersaturated solution and high temperature change Frank-Van der Merwe (FM) growth of Al0.3Ga0.7As in liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) into isolated island deposition. Low growth speed, high temperature and in situ annealing in molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) cause the origination of InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) to happen while the film is still below critical thickness in Stranski-Krastanow (SK) mode. Sample morphologies are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or atomic force microscopy (AFM). It is suggested that such achievements are of value not only to fundamental researches but also to spheres of device applications as well. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.