Ulrich T. Schwarz

Experimental Generation and Observation of Intrinsic Localized Spin Wave Modes in an Antiferromagnet

By driving with a microwave pulse the lowest frequency antiferromagnetic resonance of the quasi-1D biaxial antiferromagnet

Facet degradation of GaN heterostructure laser diodes

({\mathrm{C}}_{2}{\mathrm{H}}_{5}{\mathrm{NH}}_{3}{)}_{2}{\mathrm{CuCl}}_{4}

Indium incorporation and emission wavelength of polar, nonpolar and semipolar InGaN quantum wells

into an unstable region, intrinsic localized spin waves have been generated and detected in the spin wave gap. These findings are consistent with the prediction that nonlinearity plus lattice discreteness can lead to localized excitations with dimensions comparable to the lattice constant.

Observation of Ince-Gaussian modes in stable resonators.

We investigated the degradation of cleaved facets of (Al,In)GaN laser diodes in different atmospheres. We found that operation in water-free atmospheres with sufficient oxygen shows a slow degradation. Operation in atmospheres with water vapor causes a fast degradation and an oxidation on the facet. This deposition is a permanent damage to the laser diode. If the laser diode is operated in pure nitrogen, we find a thick deposition on the facet, which shows high absorption. This deposition can be removed by either high optical output powers or by operation in atmospheres with sufficient oxygen. We also explain the influence of these coatings to the degradation behavior and see these coatings as the reason for unstable kinks in the L–I characteristics during operation.

GaN-based micro-LED arrays on flexible substrates for optical cochlear implants

InGaN quantum wells were grown by metal organic vapor-phase epitaxy on polar (0 0 0 1), nonpolar (1 0  0) and on semipolar (1 0  2), (1 1  2), (1 0  1) as well as (2 0  1) oriented GaN substrates. The room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) emission energies for quantum wells grown on different crystal orientations show large variations of up to 600 meV. The following order of the emission energy was found throughout the entire range of growth temperatures: (1 0  1) < (1 1  2) = (0 0 0 1) < (2 0  1) < (1 0  0) = (1 0  2). In order to differentiate between the effects of strain, quantum-confined stark effect (QCSE) and indium incorporation the experimental data were compared to k.p theory-based calculations for differently oriented InGaN QWs. The major contribution to the shift between (1 0  0) and (0 0 0 1) InGaN quantum wells can be attributed to the QCSE. The redshift between (1 0  0) and the semipolar (1 0  2) and (2 0  1) QWs can be attributed to shear and anisotropic strain affecting the valence band structure. Finally, for (1 1  2) and (1 0  1) the emission energy shift could be attributed to a significantly higher indium incorporation efficiency.

Recombination coefficients of GaN-based laser diodes

We report what is to our knowledge the first observation of Ince-Gaussian modes directly generated in a stable resonator. By slightly breaking the symmetry of the cavity of a diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser and its pump beam configuration we were able to generate single high-order Ince-Gaussian modes of high quality. The observed transverse modes have an inherent elliptic structure and exhibit remarkable agreement with theoretical predictions.

Microscopic analysis of optical gain in InGaN∕GaN quantum wells

Currently available cochlear implants are based on electrical stimulation of the spiral ganglion neurons. Optical stimulation with arrays of micro-sized light-emitting diodes (µLEDs) promises to increase the number of distinguishable frequencies. Here, the development of a flexible GaN-based micro-LED array as an optical cochlear implant is reported for application in a mouse model. The fabrication of 15 µm thin and highly flexible devices is enabled by a laser-based layer transfer process of the GaN-LEDs from sapphire to a polyimide-on-silicon carrier wafer. The fabricated 50 × 50 µm2 LEDs are contacted via conducting paths on both p- and n-sides of the LEDs. Up to three separate channels could be addressed. The probes, composed of a linear array of the said µLEDs bonded to the flexible polyimide substrate, are peeled off the carrier wafer and attached to flexible printed circuit boards. Probes with four µLEDs and a width of 230 µm are successfully implanted in the mouse cochlea both in vitro and in vivo. The LEDs emit 60 µW at 1 mA after peel-off, corresponding to a radiant emittance of 6 mW mm−2.

Optical gain, carrier-induced phase shift, and linewidth enhancement factor in InGaN quantum well lasers

We measure the charge carrier recombination coefficients of InGaN quantum wells by analyzing the dynamical properties of (Al,In)GaN laser diodes emitting in the violet spectral range. Relaxation oscillations and turn-on delays are fitted to a rate equation model including a charge carrier density dependent recombination rate. Using optical gain spectroscopy we can directly determine the injection efficiency of the devices and thereby separate the effect of charge carrier leakage from that of carrier recombination. We find a third-order recombination coefficient of (4.5±0.9)×10-31cm6s-1 which is in agreement with theoretical predictions for phonon- and alloy-disorder-assisted Auger scattering.

Optical gain spectra for near UV to aquamarine (Al,In)GaN laser diodes

A microscopic theory is used to analyze optical gain in InGaN∕GaN quantum wells (QW). Experimental data are obtained from Hakki–Paoli measurements on edge-emitting lasers for different carrier densities. The simulations are based on the solution of the quantum kinetic Maxwell–Bloch equations, including many-body effects and a self-consistent treatment of piezoelectric fields. The results confirm the validity of a QW gain description for this material system with a substantial inhomogeneous broadening due to structural variation. They also give an estimate of the nonradiative recombination rate.

Nanostructure and strain in InGaN/GaN superlattices grown in GaN nanowires

Adapting the Hakki Paoli method to group III nitrides, we measure gain, differential gain, carrier-induced change of refractive index, carrier-induced phase shift, and the antiguiding factor. Our measurements also cover the low-carrier-density regime, in which spontaneous and piezoelectric fields and Coulomb interaction are only partially screened. This regime is most interesting as a comparison with existing theoretical simulations, including many-body effects.