Richard A. Hogg

Self-assembled quantum-dot superluminescent light-emitting diodes

The development of low-cost, compact, high-power and broadband superluminescent light-emitting diodes is an important research subject for a wide range of applications. We describe how self-assembled quantum-dot structures can provide an efficient means of realizing such devices utilizing a number of their unique physical properties. Such quantum dot superluminescent diodes are leading to a revolution in the development of broadband emitters for widespread medical, biological and telecommunications applications.

Systematic Study of the Effects of Modulation p-Doping on 1.3-

The effects of modulation p-doping on 1.3-mum InGaAs-InAs quantum-dot (QD) lasers are systematically investigated using a series of wafers with doping levels from 0 to 18 acceptors per QD. Various characterization techniques for both laser diodes and surface-emitting light-emitting diode structures are employed. We report: 1) how the level of modulation p-doping alters the length dependant laser characteristics (in turn providing insight on various key parameters); 2) the effect of modulation p-doping on the temperature dependence of a number of factors and its role in obtaining an infinite T0; 3) how increasing concentrations of modulation p-doping affects the saturated gain, differential gain, and gain profile of the lasers; and finally, 4) the effect modulation p-doping has on the small signal modulation properties of 1.3-mum QD lasers. In each of these areas, the role of modulation p-doping is established and critically discussed.

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We propose and demonstrate a technique for tailoring the emission bandwidth of /spl sim/1.3 /spl mu/m quantum dot superluminescent light-emitting diodes. A broadening of the emission is achieved by incorporating the InAs quantum dot layers in InGaAs quantum wells of different indium compositions. These structures exhibit a broader and flatter emission compared to a simple dot-in well structure comprised of wells of identical indium composition.

Quantum-Dot Lasers

High pulse repetition rate (≥10 GHz) diode-pumped solid-state lasers, modelocked using semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs) are emerging as an enabling technology for high data rate coherent communication systems owing to their low noise and pulse-to-pulse optical phase-coherence. Quantum dot (QD) based SESAMs offer potential advantages to such laser systems in terms of reduced saturation fluence, broader bandwidth, and wavelength flexibility. Here, we describe the development of an epitaxial process for the realization of high optical quality 1.55 µm In(Ga)As QDs on GaAs substrates, their incorporation into a SESAM, and the realization of the first 10 GHz repetition rate QD-SESAM modelocked laser at 1.55 µm, exhibiting ∼2 ps pulse width from an Er-doped glass oscillator (ERGO). With a high areal dot density and strong light emission, this QD structure is a very promising candidate for many other applications, such as laser diodes, optical amplifiers, non-linear and photonic crystal based devices.

Broad-band superluminescent light-emitting diodes incorporating quantum dots in compositionally modulated quantum wells

The first demonstration, to our knowledge, of the creation of ultrabroadband superluminescent light-emitting diodes using multiple quantum-dot layer structure by rapid thermal-annealing process is reported. The device exhibits a 3 dB emission bandwidth of 146 nm centered at 984 nm with cw output power as high as 15 mW at room temperature corresponding to an extremely small coherence length of 6.6 microm.

1.55 µm InAs/GaAs Quantum Dots and High Repetition Rate Quantum Dot SESAM Mode-locked Laser

We present a 18 mW fiber-coupled single-mode superluminescent diode with 85 nm bandwidth for application in optical coherence tomography (OCT). First, we describe the effect of quantum dot (QD) growth temperature on optical spectrum and gain, highlighting the need for the optimization of epitaxy for broadband applications. Then, by incorporating this improved material into a multicontact device, we show how bandwidth and power can be controlled. We then go on to show how the spectral shape influences the autocorrelation function, which exhibits a coherence length of <;11 μm, and relative noise is found to be 10 dB lower than that of a thermal source. Finally, we apply the optimum device to OCT of in vivo skin and show the improvement that can be made with higher power, wider bandwidth, and lower noise, respectively.

Realization of extremely broadband quantum-dot superluminescent light-emitting diodes by rapid thermal-annealing process.

The effect of the growth temperature of the GaAs nucleation layer on the properties of 1.3-μm InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) monolithically grown on a Ge substrate is investigated by using transmission electron microscopy, etch pit density, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The photoluminescence intensity for Ge-based InAs/GaAs quantum dots is very sensitive to the initial GaAs nucleation temperature with the strongest room-temperature emission at 380 °C, due to the lower density of defects generated at the GaAs/Ge interface and prorogating into the III-V layers at this temperature. Furthermore, lasing operation up to 100 °C was achieved for Ge-based 1.3-μm InAs/GaAs quantum-dot diodes with the initial GaAs layer nucleated at 380 °C.The effect of the growth temperature of the GaAs nucleation layer on the properties of 1.3-μm InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) monolithically grown on a Ge substrate is investigated by using transmission electron microscopy, etch pit density, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The photoluminescence intensity for Ge-based InAs/GaAs quantum dots is very sensitive to the initial GaAs nucleation temperature with the strongest room-temperature emission at 380 °C, due to the lower density of defects generated at the GaAs/Ge interface and prorogating into the III-V layers at this temperature. Furthermore, lasing operation up to 100 °C was achieved for Ge-based 1.3-μm InAs/GaAs quantum-dot diodes with the initial GaAs layer nucleated at 380 °C.

Quantum Dot Superluminescent Diodes for Optical Coherence Tomography: Device Engineering

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.

The effect of growth temperature of GaAs nucleation layer on InAs/GaAs quantum dots monolithically grown on Ge substrates

We report a hybrid quantum well (QW)/quantum dot active element for an application in broadband sources. These structures consist of an InGaAs QW and six InAs dot-in-well (DWELL) layers. The single QW is designed to emit at a wavelength coincident with the second excited state of the quantum dot. We compare two hybrid QW/quantum dot samples where the QW position is changed, and show that carrier transport effects make QW placement very important through current-voltage, capacitance-voltage, photocurrent, and temperature-dependent spontaneous emission measurements. Using the optimal structure, due to the combined effects of quantum dot ground states, first excited state, and QW emission, a positive modal gain spanning ~300 nm is achieved for the segmented contact device. The values for modal gain are further confirmed by simultaneous three-state lasing, which is studied spectroscopically. Finally, a hybrid QW/quantum dot superluminescent diode (SLD) is reported; the device exhibits a 3 dB emission spectrum of 213 nm, centered at 1230 nm with a corresponding output power of 1.1 mW. The hybrid SLD is then assessed for an application in an optical coherence tomography system; an axial resolution of ~4 μm is predicted.

High-Power Quantum-Dot Superluminescent LED With Broadband Drive Current Insensitive Emission Spectra Using a Tapered Active Region

We present a high-power (18 mW continuous wave exiting a single-mode fiber and 35 mW exiting the facet), broadband (85 nm full-width at half-maximum) quantum dot-based superluminescent diode, and apply it to a time-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) setup. First, we test its performance with increasing optical feedback. Then we demonstrate its imaging properties on tissue-engineered (TE) skin and in vivo skin. OCT allows the tracking of epidermal development in TE skin, while the higher power source allows better sensitivity and depth penetration for imaging of in vivo skin layers.