Surface morphology of ion-beam deposited carbon films under high temperature

Carbon films with an open-ended structure were obtained by mass-selected ion-beam deposition technique at 800degreesC. Raman spectra show that these films are mainly sp(2)-bonded. In our case, threshold ion energy of 140 eV was found for the formation of such surface morphology. High deposition temperature and ion-beam current density are also responsible for the growth of this structure. Additionally, the growth mechanism of the carbon films is discussed in this article. It was found that the ions sputtered pits on the substrate in the initial stage play a key role in the tubular surface morphology. (C) 2002 American Vacuum Society.

Polarity determination for GaN thin films by electron energy-loss spectroscopy

The intensity of the N K edge in electron energy-loss spectra from a GaN thin film shows a pronounced difference when the orientation of the film approaches the (0002) and (000-2) Bragg reflections, along the polar direction. This experimental result can be interpreted by the effect associated with interference between the Bloch waves of the incident electron in the GaN crystal. The theoretical calculations indicate that, at the Bragg condition of g=0002 along the Ga-N bond direction, the thickness-averaged electron current density on the N atom plane is much higher than that at g=000 (2) over bar, with a maximum as the specimen thickness is about 0.4xi(0002) (the two-beam extinction distance). The delocalization effect on the experimental spectra is also discussed. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.

Growth and characterization of InGaAs/InAlAs quantum cascade lasers

The growth and characterization of quantum cascade (QC) lasers based on InGaAs/InAlAs material system are investigated. Pronounced intersubband absorption from stacked active region of QC structure is used to monitor the wavelength of QC laser and disclose the material quality. The precise control of the epilayer thickness and the good quality of interfaces are demonstrated by the abundant narrow satellite peaks of X-ray diffraction. Laser action in quasi-continuous wave operation is achieved at lambda approximate to 5.1-5.2 mum up to 300 K. For 10 x 800 mum(2) laser device, peak output power of similar to7.2 mW and threshold current density of 3 kA/cm(2) at room temperature are obtained. For some devices, if keep the peak output powers at the similar to2 mW level, quasi-continuous wave operation at room temperature persists more than 1 h are recorded. (Q) (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Self-assembled quantum dots, wires and quantum-dot lasers

Molecular beam epitaxy-grown self-assembled In(Ga)As/GaAs and InAs/InAlAs/InP quantum dots (QDs) and quantum wires (QWRs) have been studied. By adjusting growth conditions, surprising alignment. preferential elongation, and pronounced sequential coalescence of dots and wires under specific condition are realized. The lateral ordering of QDs and the vertical anti-correlation of QWRs are theoretically discussed. Room-temperature (RT) continuous-wave (CW) lasing at the wavelength of 960 nm with output power of 3.6 W from both uncoated facets is achieved fi-om vertical coupled InAs/GaAs QDs ensemble. The RT threshold current density is 218 A/cm(2). A RT CW output power of 0.6 W/facet ensures at least 3570 h lasing (only drops 0.83 dB). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.

Electrical manifestation of the quantum-confined Stark effect by quantum capacitance response in an optically excited quantum well

We have studied the capacitance-voltage characteristics of an optically excited wide quantum well. Both self-consistent simulations and experimental results show the striking quantum contribution to the capacitance near zero bias which is ascribed to the swift decreasing of the overlap between the electron and hole wave functions in the well as the longitudinal field goes up. This quantum capacitance feature is regarded as an electrical manifestation of the quantum-confined Stark effect.

Strain-compensated quantum cascade lasers operating at room temperature

Quantum cascade (QC) lasers based on strain-compensated InxGa(1-x)As/InyAl(1-y)As grown on InP substrate using molecular beam epitaxy is reported. The epitaxial quality is demonstrated by the abundant narrow satellite peaks of double-crystal X-ray diffraction and cross-section transmission electron microscopy of the QC laser wafer. Laser action in quasi-continuous wave operation is achieved at lambda approximate to 3.6-3.7 mum at room temperature (34 degreesC) for 20 mum x 1.6 mm devices, with peak output powers of similar to 10.6mW and threshold current density of 2.7kA/cm(2) at this temperature. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

High-performance strain-compensated InGaAs/InAlAs quantum cascade lasers

We report on the realization of quantum cascade (QC) lasers based on strain-compensated InxGa(1-x)As/In(y)A((1-y))As grown on InP substrates using molecular beam epitaxy. X-ray diffraction and cross section transmission electron microscopy have been used to ascertain the quality of the QC laser materials. Quasi-continuous wave lasing at lambda approximate to 3.54-3.7 mum at room temperature was achieved. For a laser with 1.6 mm cavity length and 20 mum ridge-waveguide width,quasi-continuous wave lasing at 34 degreesC persists for more than 30 min, with a maximum power of 11.4 mW and threshold current density of 1.2 kA cm(-2), both record values for QC lasers of comparable wavelength.

Design consideration and performance of high-power and high-brightness InGaAs-InGaAsP-AlGaAs quantum-well diode lasers (lambda=0.98 mu m)

In this paper, we conduct a theoretical analysis of the design, fabrication, and performance measurement of high-power and high-brightness strained quantum-well lasers emitting at 0.98 mum, The material system of interest consists of an Al-free InGaAs-InGaAsP active region and AlGaAs cladding layers. Some key parameters of the laser structure are theoretically analyzed, and their effects on the laser performance are discussed. The laser material is grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition and demonstrates high quality with low-threshold current density, high internal quantum efficiency, and extremely low internal loss. High-performance broad-area multimode and ridge-waveguide single-mode laser devices are fabricated. For 100-mum-wide stripe lasers having a cavity length of 800 mum, a high slope efficiency of 1.08 W-A, a low vertical beam divergence of 34 degrees, a high output power of over 4.45 W, and a very high characteristic temperature coefficient of 250 K were achieved. Lifetime tests performed at 1.2-1.3 W (12-13 mW/mum) demonstrates reliable performance. For 4-mum-wide ridge waveguide single-mode laser devices, a maximum output power of 394 mW and fundamental mode power up to 200 mW with slope efficiency of 0.91 mW/mum are obtained.

Room temperature (34 degrees C) operation of strain-compensated quantum cascade lasers

A short wavelength (lambda similar or equal to 3.5 mu m) strain-compensated InxGa(1-x)As/InyAl(1-y)As quantum cascade laser is reported. Quasi-continuous wave operation of this device at 34 degrees C with an output power of 11.4mW persisted for more than 30 minutes without obvious degradation. A very low threshold current density of 1.2KA/cm(2) at this temperature was observed.

Self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots and quantum dot laser

Systematic study of molecular beam epitaxy-grown self-assembled In(Ga)As/GaAs, In-AlAs/AlGaAs/GaAs, and InAs/InAlAs/InP quantum dots (QDs) is demonstrated. By adjusting growth conditions, surprising alignment, preferential elongation, and pronounced sequential coalescence of dots under the specific condition are realized. Room-temperature (RT) continuous-wave (CW) lasing at the wavelength of 960 nm with output power of 1 W is achieved from vertical coupled InAs/GaAs QDs ensemble. The RT threshold current density is 218 A/cm(2). An RT CW output power of 0.53 W ensures at least 3 000 h lasing (only drops 0.83 db). This is one of the best results ever reported.

High power 980 nm Al-free strained quantum-well lasers for erbium-doped fiber amplifiers

In this paper, we reported on the fabrication of 980 nm InGaAs/InGaAsP strained quantum-well (QW) lasers with broad waveguide. The laser structure was grown by low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on a n(+)- GaAs substrate. For 3 mu m stripe ridge waveguide lasers, the threshold current is 30 mA and the maximum output power and the output power operating in fundamental mode are 350 mW and 200 mW, respectively. The output power from the single mode fiber is up to 100 mW, the coupling efficiency is 50%. We also fabricated 100 mu m broad stripe coated lasers with cavity length of 800 mu m, a threshold current density of 170 A/cm(2), a high slope efficiency of 1.03 W/A and a far-field pattern of 40 x 6 degrees are obtained. The maximum output power of 3.5 W is also obtained for 100 mu m wide coated lasers. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

High-performance 980-nm quantum-well lasers using a hybrid material system of an Al-free InGaAs-InGaAsP active region and AlGaAs cladding layers grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition

We report on the material growth and fabrication of high-performance 980-nm strained quantum-well lasers employing a hybrid material system consisting of an Al-free InGaAs-InGaAsP active region and AlGaAs cladding layers. The use of AlGaAs cladding instead of InGaP provides potential advantages in flexibility of laser design, simple epitaxial growth, and improvement of surface morphology and laser performance. The as-grown InGaAs-InGaAsP(1.6 eV)-AlGaAs(1.95 eV) lasers achieve a low threshold current density of 150 A/cm(2) (at a cavity length of 1500 mu m), internal quantum efficiency of similar to 95%, and low internal loss of 1.8 cm(-1). Both broad-area and ridge-waveguide laser devices are fabricated. For 100-mu m-wide stripe lasers with a cavity length of 800 Irm, a slope efficiency of 1.05 W/A and a characteristic temperature coefficient (T-0) of 230 K are achieved. The lifetime test demonstrates a reliable performance. The comparison with our fabricated InGaAs-InGaAsP(1.6 eV)-AlGaAs(1.87 eV) lasers and Al-free InGaAs-InGaAsP (1.6 eV)-InGaP lasers are also given and discussed. The selective etching between AlGaAs and InGaAsP is successfully used for the formation of a ridge-waveguide structure. For 4-mu m-wide ridge-waveguide laser devices, a maximum output power of 350 mW is achieved. The fundamental mode output power can be up to 190 mW with a slope efficiency as high as 0.94 W/A.

AlGaInP visible quantum well lasers for information technology

650 nm-range AlGaInP multi-quantum well (MQW) laser diodes grown by low pressure metal organic chemical vapor deposition (LP-MOCVD) have been studied and the results are presented in this paper. Threshold current density of broad area contact laser diodes can be as low as 350 A/cm(2). Laser diodes with buried-ridge strip waveguide structures were made, threshold currents and differential efficiencies are (22-40) mA and (0.2-0.7) mW/mA, respectively. Typical output power for the laser diodes is 5 mW, maximum output power of 15 mW has been obtained. Their operation temperature can be up to 90 degrees C under power of 5 mW. After operating under 90 degrees C and 5 mW for 72 hrs, the average increments for the threshold currents of the lasers at 25 degrees C and the operation currents at 5 mW (at 25 degrees C) are (2-3) mA and (3-5) mA, respectively. Reliability tests showed that no obvious degradation was observed after 1400 hours of CW operation under 50 degrees C and 2.5 mW.

Threshold reduction in strained-layer InGaAs/GaAs quantum well lasers by liquid phase epitaxy regrowth

When liquid phase epitaxy regrowth at 780 degrees C for 2 h is applied to the samples after molecular beam epitaxy, a decrease of the threshold current density in strained InGaAs/GaAs quantum well lasers by a factor of 3 to 4 is obtained. We suggest that this improvement is attributed to the reduction of nonradiative centers associated with deep levels at the three regions of the active region, the graded layer and the cladding layer. Indeed, a significant reduction of deep center densities has been observed by using minority and majority carrier injection deep level transient spectroscopy measurements. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Theoretical analysis of modal gain in p-doped 1.3 mu m InAs/GaAs quantum dot lasers

A theoretical study of modal gain in p-doped 1.3 mu m InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) lasers is presented. The expression of modal gain is derived, which includes an effective ratio that describes how many QDs contribute to the modal gain. The calculated results indicate that the modal gain with the effective ratio is much smaller than that without the effective ratio. The calculated maximum modal gain is is a good agreement with the experimental data. Furthermore, QDs with lower height or smaller aspect ratio are beneficial in achieving a larger maximum modal gain that leads to lower threshold current density and higher differential modal gain. (C) 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim