Quantum Dot Laser

A Novel Approach
AAKASH GUPTA
UE5501
B.E. (E.C.E.) 8TH SEMESTER
 Quantum-dot laser
tightly confines the
electrons and holes
to produce steady
output, regardless of
external
temperature.
 I will discuss
quantum structures,
laser and lasing
action and use of
quantum dots in
 Quantum Structures
 Quantum Dots
 How QDs Work
 Properties of Quantum Dots
 LASER
 Working Principle
 Types of Lasers
 QD Laser
 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)  Quantum Well (2D) 
3 Degrees of Freedom (x-, y-, and 2 Degrees of Freedom (x-, and y-axis)
z-axis)
Quantum Dot (0D)  0 Degrees of

Quantum Wire (1D)  Freedom
1 Degree of Freedom (x- (electron is confined in all
axis)
directions)
 Non-traditional semiconductor
 Crystals composed of periodic

groups of II-VI, III-V, or IV-VI
materials
 Range from 2-10 nanometres

(10-50 atoms) in diameter
 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.
 Einstein’s 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.
Materials for semiconductor lasers
 Core shell quantum structures
 Self-assembled QDs and

Stranski-Krastanov 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.
 An ideal QDL consists of a 3D-array of dots with equal
size and shape
 Surrounded by a higher band-gap material
 confines the injected carriers.
 Embedded in an optical waveguide
 Consists lower and upper cladding layers (n-doped and p-
doped shields)
 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
 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
 www.wikipedia.org
 www.ieee.org
 www.howstuffworks.com
 IEEE spectrum Jan 2009 Issue

Quantum Dot Laser

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What are quantum dots and how do they work?

What are quantum dots and how do they work?

How does a quantum dot laser work?

How does a quantum dot laser work?

A Novel Approach

Quantum Dot (0D)  0 Degrees of

 Crystals composed of periodic

 Range from 2-10 nanometres

 Tunable band gap

 the wavelength of the exciton peaks is a function of

 Tunable Emission Pattern

 the peak emission wavelength is independent of the

 Adding Shells to Quantum Dots

 Laser light is monochromatic, coherent, and moves in

 A semiconductor laser is a laser in which a

 Einstein’s Photoelectric theory states that light should

 Stimulated, organized photon emission occurs when

 Self-assembled QDs and

 Gases in remotely doped

 Second, Quantum Dots density is insufficient.

 Third, the lack of good coupling between QD

 Maximum material gain and differential gain

 Superior temperature stability

Telecom network QD Lasers Datacom network

 In consumer electronics, semiconductor lasers are used to

 Medical lasers are used because of their ability to produce

 Lasers are also used by law enforcement agencies to

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