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Plasma and Beam Physics

Theses and Dissertations

Semiconductor lasers

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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Electroluminescence Studies On Longwavelength Indium Arsenide Quantum Dot Microcavities Grown On Gallium Arsenide, John C. Ramsey Dec 2011

Electroluminescence Studies On Longwavelength Indium Arsenide Quantum Dot Microcavities Grown On Gallium Arsenide, John C. Ramsey

Theses and Dissertations

A comprehensive study of the electroluminescence of four GaAs/AlGaAs microcavity devices with InAs/GaInAs quantum dot active regions emitting near 1.3 µm was conducted. The four molecular beam epitaxial grown samples with AlAs oxide aperture confinement layers were fabricated, characterized, and optically modeled. Optical power transmission of the samples was modeled using Matlab and compared with measured transmission data. Resonant cavity light emitting diodes (RCLEDs) and three vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) samples were fabricated and electro-optically characterized over a range of injection currents and temperatures. Devices achieved continuous wave room temperature lasing at 1.28 µm with an output power …


Modulation Response Of Twin Optically Coupled Diode Lasers, Eric M. Golden Mar 2008

Modulation Response Of Twin Optically Coupled Diode Lasers, Eric M. Golden

Theses and Dissertations

Diode lasers are useful in military and commercial applications that have strict requirements for size, weight and power. This includes the use of diode lasers in optoelectronic and photonic integrated circuits, which can lead to new technologies in optical communications and optical interconnects in high performance computing systems. For these systems to be effective, the diode laser must be modulated at frequencies beyond current limits which are typically a few GHz. This barrier can be broken by optically coupling a diode laser with a similar laser. A set of single mode rate equations models the dynamics of twin optically coupled …


Ultrafast Spectroscopy Of Mid-Infrared Semiconductors Using The Signal And Idler Beams Of A Synchronous Optical Parametric Oscillator, Richard M. Derbis Mar 2008

Ultrafast Spectroscopy Of Mid-Infrared Semiconductors Using The Signal And Idler Beams Of A Synchronous Optical Parametric Oscillator, Richard M. Derbis

Theses and Dissertations

Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) semiconductors are of use to the Air Force for several applications. Ultrafast spectroscopy can be used to better quantify the effectiveness of semiconductor opto-electronic devices. The objective of this thesis was to improve the procedure for taking ultrafast, time-resolved measurements of photoluminescence from MWIR semiconductors. Previous work has used a mode-locked titanium sapphire (Ti:Saph) laser to excite the semiconductor sample and to upconvert the photoluminescence from the semiconductor. Work completed in this thesis improved on the techniques developed during previous work. A synchronous Optical Parameter Oscillator (OPO) will be used to convert the Ti:Saph laser (0.830 µm) …


Backward Amplification And Beam Cleanup Of A Raman Fiber Laser Oscillator Using A Multi-Mode Graded Index Fiber Amplifier, Jesse D. S. Morgan Iii Mar 2006

Backward Amplification And Beam Cleanup Of A Raman Fiber Laser Oscillator Using A Multi-Mode Graded Index Fiber Amplifier, Jesse D. S. Morgan Iii

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis tested a CW fiber-based Raman amplifier implemented in a backward pumped geometry. To create a seed for the amplifier, a CW Nd:YAG laser operating at 1.064µm was used to pump a 50µm multimode graded index fiber using fiber Bragg gratings to create a Raman Fiber Laser (RFL) Oscillator with a Stokes beam at 1.116µm. The Stokes beam was then used to seed two lengths, 5.3km and 2.5km, of 50µm multimode graded index fiber. The fiber amplifier was pumped by a second CW Nd:YAG laser in the backward geometry. Spectral data taken for both fibers indicated that the backward …


Optical Characterization Of Antimony-Based, Types-I And Ii, Multiple Quantum-Well Semiconductor Structures For Mid-Infrared Laser Applications, Edward G. Ferguson Mar 2003

Optical Characterization Of Antimony-Based, Types-I And Ii, Multiple Quantum-Well Semiconductor Structures For Mid-Infrared Laser Applications, Edward G. Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations

This experiment characterizes antimony-based, multiple quantum-well, types-I and -II, semiconductor samples designed for laser applications. The samples emit light in the 3-5-micron range to exploit an atmospheric transmission window, making them ideal for infrared (IR)-seeking missile countermeasures. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra were collected and yielded bandgap (E(sub g)) dependence-on-temperature relationships. The type-I sample was found to follow the Varshni equation, while the type-II samples showed a rise with temperature in a portion of the curve that should be linear according to the Varshni equation. The type-II samples followed the Varshni equation well at higher temperature. The PL study indicated that the …


Carrier Dynamics In Mid-Infrared Quantum Well Lasers Using Time-Resolved Photoluminescence, Steven M. Gorski Mar 2002

Carrier Dynamics In Mid-Infrared Quantum Well Lasers Using Time-Resolved Photoluminescence, Steven M. Gorski

Theses and Dissertations

Research in mid-infrared laser technology has uncovered numerous applications for commercial and government use. A limiting factor for mid-infrared semiconductors is nonradiative recombination, which is a process that produces excess heat without emitting a photon. Nonradiative recombination mechanisms occur over a short time period and difficult to measure. Growth methods have significantly reduced the nonradiative recombination in some materials. The objective of this research is to further the understanding of how quantum well structures impact carrier recombination. InAsSb/InAlASb and InAs/GaInSb quantum well structures were studied with time-resolved photoluminescence utilizing upconversion, a non-linear wave mixing technique. This research reports Shockley-Read-Hall, radiative, …


Experimental Investigation And Computer Modeling Of Optical Switching In Distributed Bragg Reflector And Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser Structures, Richard J. Bagnell Dec 1995

Experimental Investigation And Computer Modeling Of Optical Switching In Distributed Bragg Reflector And Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser Structures, Richard J. Bagnell

Theses and Dissertations

The optical switching capabilities of Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) structures, including Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) are examined. Reflectivity switching is demonstrated using both thermal and carrier generated effects to alter the DBR/VCSEL layers' refractive indices. Optical bistability is demonstrated at room temperature, under CW photopumped excitation. The optical bistability hysteresis is controllable by spectral location of the pump on the stop band edge. In the VCSEL, reflective bistability is also evidenced; additionally, this bistability is accompanied by a bistability in the VCSEL lasing output intensity, spot size, and wavelength. Modeling of the DBR/VCSEL thermally induced bistability was accomplished …


The Effects Of Optical Feedback On Polarization Of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers, Gregory J. Vansuch Dec 1993

The Effects Of Optical Feedback On Polarization Of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers, Gregory J. Vansuch

Theses and Dissertations

Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers VCSELs are a type of semiconductor laser with a cavity oriented orthogonally to the planes of material growth. These lasers differ from conventional edge emitting lasers in several important ways. They have symmetric output beams and they are easily built into two dimensional arrays, making them very attractive as photonic components. The characteristic of interest in this thesis is polarization. While the asymmetric cavities of edge emitters exhibit a clear preference for light polarized in a particular direction, the cylindrically symmetric cavity of a VCSEL has no clear preference. Therefore, it should be relatively easy …