The effects of multiply quantum wells (MQW) on optical and electrical characteristics of AlGaAs lasers with separate confinement heterostructures (SCH)

TL;DR

This study models AlGaAs lasers with multiple quantum wells using TCAD and open source tools, showing that increasing quantum wells improves efficiency and reduces damage risk.

Contribution

It demonstrates the impact of multiple quantum wells on laser performance, optimizing waveguide widths for enhanced efficiency and safety.

Findings

Maximum optical efficiency reaches 88% with 3-QW structure.

Increasing quantum wells broadens optical intensity profile.

Optimized waveguide widths improve laser durability.

Abstract

Optical and electrical characteristics of AlGaAs lasers with separate confinement heterostructures are modeled by using Synopsys's Sentaurus TCAD, and open source software. The results for cases of 2-QW (2 Quantum Wells) and 3-QW structures are compared with these for 1-QW. A significant improvement of useful laser parameters is obtained by increasing the number of Quantum Wells and optimizing the width of waveguides. In particular, the maximum optical efficiency is shown to reach 88% for a 3-QW structure with optimal width of waveguides. The width of optical intensity profile of MQW lasers increases, leading to lowering maximal light power density passing through laser facets, decreasing the risk of catastrophic damage of mirrors.