Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) quantum confinement of the charge carriers in quantum wire (QWR) semiconductor lasers has been proposed as a means for enhancing the static and the dynamic properties of these devices.^1,2 The spectral narrowing in the density of states of ideal, quasi-1D QWRs is expected to lead to reduced threshold currents, higher modulation speed, narrower spectral line width and reduced chirp, and lower temperature sensitivity of the threshold current. In addition to the quantum size effects, the very small volume and the wire geometry of the active region in such lasers allow' design of QWR array devices with extremely low transparency currents for ultra-low current operation and resonant periodic gain for achieving gain-coupled distributed feedback effects.

© 1993 Optical Society of America