Threshold current analysis of compressive strain (0-1.8%) in low-threshold, long-wavelength quantum well lasers

A comprehensive study of the effect of compressive strain on the threshold current performance of long-wavelength (1.5 mu m) quantum-well (QW) lasers is presented. Model predictions of threshold currents in such devices identify QW thickness as a parameter that must be considered in optimizing laser performance when Auger currents are present. Experimental comparisons between strained and unstrained devices reveal strain-induced reductions in internal transparency current density per QW from 66 to 40 A/cm/sup 2/, an increase in peak differential modal gain from 0.12 to 0.23 cm/A, and evidence for the elimination of intervalence band absorption as compressive strain increases from 0 to 1.8%. However, most of these improvements arise in the first approximately 1% of compressive strain. To fabricate low-threshold 1.5- mu m buried heterostructure (BH) devices in InP using the strained QW active regions an optimized design which shows that threshold current is at its lowest when the stripe width is approximately 0.6-0.7 mu m is derived. Results for uncoated BH lasers are reported.>