Cancelled

SC319 Quantum Dot Laser Diodes

Tuesday, May 18, 2010
1:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Peter Blood; Cardiff Univ., UK
Level: Advanced Beginner (basic understanding of topic is necessary to follow course material)

Course Description

Quantum dots are enabling significant advances to be made in the performance of semiconductor laser diodes, for example production of ultra-low threshold current lasers and ultra-short pulse generation. These advances derive from distinctive electronic properties of quantum dot structures compared with quantum well devices. Indeed, some of the concepts traditionally applied to quantum well devices cannot be transfered to quantum dot structures.

This course provides an introduction to the basic device physics which determines the operation of quantum dot lasers and relates this to current performance characteristics. The course includes a description of typical device structures and material systems, and provides an account of optical gain and recombination processes in dots, comparing and contrasting their properties with those of quantum well systems. Issues of particular significance for quantum dot lasers such as homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening, non-thermal carrier distributions and prospects for temperature insensitive threshold current are addressed. The theme of the course is to indicate how the distinctive performance features of these devices derive from the physical and electronic characteristics of the dots themselves. Key application areas are discussed and key topics for continuing research identified.

Benefits and Learning Objectives

This course should enable you to:

• Describe typical quantum dot laser structures.
• Identify distinctive electronic properties of quantum dots.
• Describe how these properties determine the optical gain and recombination processes in quantum dots.
• Discuss the performance characteristics of quantum dot lasers.
• Summarize the current state of the art in their development and identify areas which merit further research.
• Identify principal application areas.

Intended Audience

The course is intended for graduate students and research staff with science and engineering backgrounds, in academia or industry, who wish to gain an introduction to current research and development of quantum dot lasers. A basic knowledge of semiconductor physics and the principles of operation of diode lasers is assumed.

Biography

Peter Blood is a professor of physics at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, where he teaches at undergraduate and graduate levels on condensed matter physics and optoelectronics. He supervises research students studying gain processes in semiconductor systems. He has contributed a set of lectures to summer schools on the physics of semiconductor lasers held in Cork, Cardiff and Beijing and has given courses and tutorials at major international conferences. His major research topic at the present time is quantum dot lasers. He is fellow of IEEE/LEOS.