II-VI Quantum Dot Laser

Quantum Structures Quantum Dots

How QDs Work Properties of Quantum Dots

LASER
Working Principle Types of Lasers

QD Laser(II-VI)
Historical Evolution Fabrication Application Requirement Bottlenecks Advantages

Applications References

 In nanotechnology, a particle is defined as a small object that behaves as a whole unit in terms of its transport and properties. According to size:
fine particles cover a range between 100 and 2500 nm ultrafine particles are sized between 1 and 100 nm

Nanoparticles may or may not exhibit size-related intensive properties.

Bulk Crystal (3D) 3 Degrees of Freedom (x-, y-, and z-axis)

Quantum Well (2D) 2 Degrees of Freedom (x-, and y-axis)

Quantum Wire (1D) 1 Degree of Freedom (x-axis)

Quantum Dot (0D) 0 Degrees of Freedom (electron is confined in all directions)

Comparison of the quantization of density of states:

(a) bulk, (b) quantum well, (c) quantum wire, (d) quantum dot. NB:- The conduction and valence bands split into overlapping subbands that get successively narrower as the electron motion is restricted in more dimensions.

 Non-traditional semiconductor

Crystals composed of periodic groups of II-VI, III-V, or IV-VI materials

Range from 2-10 nanometres 50 atoms) in diameter (10-

An electromagnetic radiation emitter with an easily tunable band gap 0 degrees of freedom

 Emission frequency depends on the bandgap, therefore it is possible to control the output wavelength of a dot with extreme precision Small nanocrystals absorb shorter wavelengths or bluer light Larger nanocrystals absorb longer wavelengths or redder light The shape of the dot also changes the band gap energy level

Quantum dot layer

 Bands and band gaps

Electrons and Holes Range of energies

Quantum confinement
Exciton* Bohr Radius Discrete energy levels

Tunable band gap

The size of the band gap is controlled simply by adjusting the size of the dot
* Motion of electrons + holes =

 Tunable Absorption Pattern

bulk semiconductors display a uniform absorption spectrum, whereas absorption spectrum for quantum dots appears as a series of overlapping peaks that get larger at shorter wavelengths the wavelength of the exciton peaks is a function of the composition and size of the quantum dot. Smaller quantum dots result in a first exciton peak at shorter wavelengths

Tunable Emission Pattern

the peak emission wavelength is bell-shaped (Gaussian) the peak emission wavelength is independent of the wavelength of the excitation light

 Quantum Yield
The percentage of absorbed photons that result in an emitted photon is called Quantum Yield (QY) controlled by the existence of nonradiative transition of electrons and holes between energy levels greatly influenced by the surface chemistry

Adding Shells to Quantum Dots

Shell =several atomic layers of an inorganic wide band semiconductor
it should be of a different semiconductor material with a wider bandgap than the Core

reduces nonradiative recombination and results in brighter emission also neutralizes the effects of many types of surface defects

 Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

Laser light is monochromatic, coherent, and moves in the same direction.

A semiconductor laser is a laser in which a semiconductor serves as a photon source. Einsteins Photoelectric theory states that light should be understood as discrete lumps of energy (photons) and it takes only a single photon with high enough energy to knock an electron loose from the atom it's bound to. Stimulated, organized photon emission occurs when two electrons with the same energy and phase meet. The two photons leave with the same frequency and direction.

Lasing Process

 Lasers are commonly designated by the type of lasing material employed:

Solid-state lasers have lasing material distributed in a solid matrix (such as the ruby or neodymium:yttrium-aluminum garnet "Yag" lasers). The neodymium-Yag laser emits infrared light at 1,064 nanometers (nm). Gas lasers (helium and helium-neon, HeNe, are the most common gas lasers) have a primary output of visible red light. CO2 lasers emit energy in the far-infrared, and are used for cutting hard materials. Excimer lasers (the name is derived from the terms excited and dimers) use reactive gases, such as chlorine and fluorine, mixed with inert gases such as argon, krypton or xenon. When electrically stimulated, a pseudo molecule (dimer) is produced. When lased, the dimer produces light in the ultraviolet range.

 Dye lasers use complex organic dyes, such as rhodamine 6G, in liquid solution or suspension as lasing media. They are tunable over a broad range of wavelengths. Semiconductor lasers, sometimes called diode lasers, are not solid-state lasers. These electronic devices are generally very small and use low power. They may be built into larger arrays, such as the writing source in some laser printers or CD players. Quantum Dot lasers use quantum dots as materials to produce lasing action. These are low power consuming, tunable and have better temperature stability.

 Core shell quantum structures

Self-assembled QDs and StranskiKrastanov growth

MBE (molecular beam epitaxy) MOVPE (metalorganics vapor phase epitaxy)

Monolayer fluctuations

Gases in remotely doped heterostructures

Schematic representation of different approaches to fabrication of nanostructures: (a) microcrystallites in glass, (b) artificial patterning of thin film structures, (c) self-organized growth of nanostructures

 A quantum dot laser is a semiconductor laser that uses quantum dots as the active laser medium in its light emitting region.
Due to the tight confinement of charge carriers in quantum dots, they exhibit an electronic structure similar to atoms.

Compound Semiconductor
Compound semiconductors are compounds that show semiconductor behaviour (in contrast to the insulating compounds considered earlier).

Types of Compound Semiconductor

Why II-VI compound?

IIVI compounds are expected to be one of the most vital materials for high-performance optoelectronics devices. Additionally, the high ionicity of these compounds makes them good candidates for high electro-optical and electromechanical coupling.

II-VI semiconductor colloidal Quantum Dots (QDs) are highly fluorescent nanocrystals which are prepared through organometallic synthesis in solution phase.

 Same energy level

Size, shape and alloy composition of QDs close to identical Real concentration of energy states obtained

High density of interacting QDs

Macroscopic physical parameter light output

Reduction of nonradiative centers

Nanostructures made by high-energy beam patterning cannot be used since damage is incurred

Electrical control
Electric field applied can change physical properties of QDs Carriers can be injected to create light emission

Comparison of efficiency between a QWL and a QDL

Quantum-dot laser tightly confines the electrons and holes to produce steady output, regardless of external temperature

CdSe II-VI Quantum dot

Atomically ordered II-VI quantum dots possess their own photoluminescence (PL) spectra.

full line: non-resonant excitation over band gap

 First, the lack of uniformity. Second, Quantum Dots density is insufficient. Third, the lack of good coupling between QD and QD.

 Wavelength of light determined by the energy levels not by bandgap energy:

improved performance & increased flexibility to adjust the wavelength

Maximum material gain and differential gain Low threshold at room temperature High output power Large modulation bandwidth

Superior temperature stability

Suppressed diffusion of non-equilibrium carriers Reduced leakage

Microwave/Millimeter wave transmission with optical fibers

Telecom network

QD Lasers

Datacom network

Optics

 In telecommunications they send signals for thousands of kilometers along optical fibers. In consumer electronics, semiconductor lasers are used to read the data on compact disks and CD-ROMs. For detection of gases and vapors in a smokestack. For fiber data communication in the speed range of 100Mbps to 10Gbps. Medical lasers are used because of their ability to produce thermal, physical, mechanical and welding effects when exposed to tissues.

Lasers are also used by law enforcement agencies to determine the speed and distance of the vehicles.
Lasers are used for guidance purposes in missiles, aircrafts and satellites.

www.wikipedia.org www.ieee.org www.howstuffworks.com IEEE spectrum Jan 2009 Issue

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