Phonon-assisted laser operation of III-V semiconductor quantum well heterostructures

Data are presented demonstrating that the control of the edge-to-edge resonator Q across a cleaved rectangular sample is essential in identifying unambiguously photopumped phonon-assisted laser operation of Al$\sb{\rm x}$Ga$\sb{\rm 1-x}$As-GaAs quantum well heterostructures (QWHs), strained-layer Al$\sb{\rm y}$Ga$\sb{\rm 1-y}$As-GaAs-In$\sb{\rm x}$Ga$\sb{\rm 1-x}$As (x $\sim$ 0.15) QWHs, and Al$\sb{0.5}$(In$\sb{\rm x}$Ga$\sb{\rm 1-x}$)$\sb{0.5}$P (x $\sim$ 0.2) QWHs. If the QWH sample is heat sunk in metal under a sapphire window, with reflecting metal folded upward along the cleaved edges, the resonator Q across the sample is high, and laser operation across the sample on confined-particle states and along the sample on a phonon sideband is observed. If the sample edges across the sample are left uncoated (weakly reflecting, low Q), only phonon-assisted laser operation is observed. Comparison of the high-Q and the low-Q photo-excitation configurations, as well as the abrupt turn-on of laser operation in a narrow spectral range one phonon energy below the lowest confined-particle state, leads to unambiguous identification of phonon-assisted laser operation of Al$\sb{\rm x}$Ga$\sb{\rm 1-x}$As-GaAs QWHs, strained layer Al$\sb{\rm y}$Ga$\sb{\rm 1-y}$As-GaAs-In$\sb{\rm x}$Ga$\sb{\rm 1-x}$As (x $\sim$ 0.5) QWHs, and Al$\sb{0.5}$(In$\sb{\rm x}$Ga$\sb{\rm 1-x}$)$\sb{0.5}$P (x $\sim$ 0.2) QWHs.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Nam, Derek Wusi

Contributors dc:contributor

• Holonyak, Nick, Jr.

• Engineering, Electronics and Electrical
• Physics, Condensed Matter
• Engineering, Materials Science

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1990 Nam, Derek Wusi

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9026278
(UMI)AAI9026278

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/21630