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
lasers.
 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 and
satellites.
 www.wikipedia.org
 www.ieee.org
 www.howstuffworks.com
 IEEE spectrum Jan 2009 Issue