High speed data transmission using directly modulated microdisk lasers based on InGaAs/GaAs quantum well-dots

Improved performance of InGaAs/GaAs microdisk lasers epi-side down bonded onto a silicon board

We study the impact of improved heat removal on the performance of InGaAs/GaAs microdisk lasers epi-side down bonded onto a silicon substrate. Unlike the initial characteristics of microlasers on a GaAs substrate, the former's bonding results in a decrease in thermal resistance by a factor of 2.3 (1.8) in microdisks with a diameter of 19 (31) µm, attributed to a thinner layered structure between the active region and the substrate and the better thermal conductivity of Si than GaAs. Bonded microdisk lasers show a 2.4-3.4-fold higher maximum output power, up to 21.7 mW, and an approximately 20% reduction in the threshold current. A record high 3 dB small-signal modulation bandwidth of 7.9 GHz for InGaAs/GaAs microdisk lasers is achieved.

Quantum-dot microlasers based on whispering gallery mode resonators

The subject of this paper is microlasers with the emission spectra determined by the whispering gallery modes. Owing to the total internal reflection of light on the sidewalls, a high Q-factor is achieved until the diameter is comparable to the wavelength. The light emission predominantly occurs in the plane of the structure, which facilitates the microlaser integration with other elements. We focus on microdisk lasers with various types of the In(Ga)As quantum dots (QDs). Deep localization of charge carriers in spatially separated regions suppresses the lateral diffusion and makes it possible to overcome the undesirable effect of non-radiative recombination in deep mesas. Thus, using conventional epitaxial structures and relatively simple post-growth processing methods, it is possible to realize small microlasers capable of operating without temperature stabilization at elevated temperatures. The low sensitivity of QDs to epitaxial and manufacturing defects allows fabricating microlasers using III-V heterostructures grown on silicon.

Light Emitting Devices Based on Quantum Well-Dots

We review epitaxial formation, basic properties, and device applications of a novel type of nanostructures of mixed (0D/2D) dimensionality that we refer to as quantum well-dots (QWDs). QWDs are formed by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxial deposition of 4–16 monolayers of InxGa1−xAs of moderate indium composition (0.3 < x < 0.5) on GaAs substrates and represent dense arrays of carrier localizing indium-rich regions inside In-depleted residual quantum wells. QWDs are intermediate in properties between 2D quantum wells and 0D quantum dots and show some advantages of both of those. In particular, they offer high optical gain/absorption coefficients as well as reduced carrier diffusion in the plane of the active region. Edge-emitting QWD lasers demonstrate low internal loss of 0.7 cm−1 and high internal quantum efficiency of 87%. as well as a reasonably high level of continuous wave (CW) power at room temperature. Due to the high optical gain and suppressed non-radiative recombination at processed sidewalls, QWDs are especially advantageous for microlasers. Thirty-one μm in diameter microdisk lasers show a high record for this type of devices output power of 18 mW. The CW lasing is observed up to 110 °C. A maximum 3-dB modulation bandwidth of 6.7 GHz is measured in the 23 μm in diameter microdisks operating uncooled without a heatsink. The open eye diagram is observed up to 12.5 Gbit/s, and error-free 10 Gbit/s data transmission at 30 °C without using an external optical amplifier, and temperature stabilization is demonstrated.