Nanoscale Semiconductor Lasers

Nanoscale Semiconductor Lasers focuses on specific issues relating to laser nanomaterials and their use in laser technology. The book presents both fundamental theory and a thorough overview of the diverse range of applications that have been developed using laser technology based on novel nanostructures and nanomaterials. Technologies covered include nanocavity lasers, carbon dot lasers, 2D material lasers, plasmonic lasers, spasers, quantum dot lasers, quantum dash and nanowire lasers. Each chapter outlines the fundamentals of the topic and examines material and optical properties set alongside device properties, challenges, issues and trends. Dealing with a scope of materials from organic to carbon nanostructures and nanowires to semiconductor quantum dots, this book will be of interest to graduate students, researchers and scientific professionals in a wide range of fields relating to laser development and semiconductor technologies. Provides an overview of the active field of nanostructured lasers, illustrating the latest topics and applications Demonstrates how to connect different classes of material to specific applications Gives an overview of several approaches to confine and control light emission and amplification using nanostructured materials and nano-scale cavities

A unique and comprehensive resource covering the fundamentals of nanolasers, with details of design, fabrication, and applications.

The last two decades have witnessed the fruitful research on nanoscale semiconductor nanolasers due to their compact footprint, low energy consumption and fast modulation speed, that are advantageous merits for nanolasers serving as light sources in future ultra-dense photonic integrated circuits (PIC). Previously, most of the research focus on the demonstration of individual devices with improving performance. Recently, there has been escalating interest in investigating the interaction of dual nanolasers, aiming at exploring the behavior of larger-size laser arrays. Before applying nanolasers in future laser array systems, certain aspects require further investigation, where this dissertation aims to fill the blank. While most of the laser parameters that have impact on the phase-locking stability of coupled nanolasers are studied in previous literatures, spontaneous emission factor has not been explored. This can be justified by the fact that conventional semiconductor has negligible spontaneously emitted photons funneling into the lasing mode due to their comparably large dimension. The compact resonator size of nanoscale lasers leads to pronounced spontaneous emission factor and necessitates research effort in evaluating the phase-locking stability on such factor. In chapter 2, we have employed the bifurcation analysis based on the coupled laser rate equations and presented the theoretical impact of spontaneous emission factor on the nonlinear dynamics of coupled nanolasers. We show that the stability is enhanced with increasing spontaneous emission factor, which indicates the huge potential of nanolasers being applied in array forms. To experimentally access the requirement for such stability, we have engineered a novel coupling geometry in chapter 3. By controlling the coupling bridge that locates in between two nanolasers, we have shown that either an in-phase or out-of-phase mode can be selected, which is confirmed by the experimental results. In chapter 4, we have theoretically explained the broad linewidths in nanolasers, focusing on the thermal noise and intensity noise inside these nanoscale cavities. We have observed that the fundamental thermal fluctuation is a huge contribute towards the measured linewidth at room temperature, that is on the order of 1nm. In chapter 5, we have reviewed some recent progress that researchers have made in building dense nanolaser arrays with applications ranging from biosensing to long-haul communications. Chapter 6 concludes the thesis and discusses some future directions that remain to explore.

Semiconductors and Semimetals has distinguished itself through the careful selection of well-known authors, editors, and contributors. Originally widely known as the "Willardson and Beer" Series, it has succeeded in publishing numerous landmark volumes and chapters. The series publishes timely, highly relevant volumes intended for long-term impact and reflecting the truly interdisciplinary nature of the field. The volumes in Semiconductors and Semimetals have been and will continue to be of great interest to physicists, chemists, materials scientists, and device engineers in academia, scientific laboratories and modern industry. The series publishes timely, highly relevant volumes intended for long-term impact and reflecting the truly interdisciplinary nature of the field

This book brings together in a single volume a unique contribution by the top experts around the world in the field of compact semiconductor lasers to provide a comprehensive description and analysis of the current status as well as future directions in the field of micro- and nano-scale semiconductor lasers. It is organized according to the various forms of micro- or nano-laser cavity configurations with each chapter discussing key technical issues, including semiconductor carrier recombination processes and optical gain dynamics, photonic confinement behavior and output coupling mechanisms, carrier transport considerations relevant to the injection process, and emission mode control. Required reading for those working in and researching the area of semiconductors lasers and micro-electronics.

This thesis focuses on two areas - the development of miniature plastic lasers that can be powered by LEDs, and the application of these lasers as highly sensitive sensors for vapours of nitroaromatic explosives (e.g. TNT). Polymer lasers are extremely compact visible lasers; the research described in the thesis is groundbreaking, driving forward the technology and physical understanding to allow these lasers to be routinely pumped by a single high-power LED. A notable advance in the work is the demonstration of nanoimprinted polymer lasers, which exhibit the world's lowest pump threshold densities by two orders of magnitude. The thesis also advances the application of these compact, novel lasers as highly sensitive detectors of explosive vapours, demonstrating that rapid detection can be achieved when microporous polymers are used. This work also demonstrates a prototype CMOS-based microsystem sensor for explosive vapours, exploiting a new detection approach.

Semiconductor lasers have important applications in numerous fields, including engineering, biology, chemistry and medicine. They form the backbone of the optical telecommunications infrastructure supporting the internet, and are used in information storage devices, bar-code scanners, laser printers and many other everyday products. Semiconductor lasers: Fundamentals and applications is a comprehensive review of this vital technology. Part one introduces the fundamentals of semiconductor lasers, beginning with key principles before going on to discuss photonic crystal lasers, high power semiconductor lasers and laser beams, and the use of semiconductor lasers in ultrafast pulse generation. Part two then reviews applications of visible and near-infrared emitting lasers. Nonpolar and semipolar GaN-based lasers, advanced self-assembled InAs quantum dot lasers and vertical cavity surface emitting lasers are all considered, in addition to semiconductor disk and hybrid silicon lasers. Finally, applications of mid- and far-infrared emitting lasers are the focus of part three. Topics covered include GaSb-based type I quantum well diode lasers, interband cascade and terahertz quantum cascade lasers, whispering gallery mode lasers and tunable mid-infrared laser absorption spectroscopy. With its distinguished editors and international team of expert contributors, Semiconductor lasers is a valuable guide for all those involved in the design, operation and application of these important lasers, including laser and telecommunications engineers, scientists working in biology and chemistry, medical practitioners, and academics working in this field. Provides a comprehensive review of semiconductor lasers and their applications in engineering, biology, chemistry and medicine Discusses photonic crystal lasers, high power semiconductor lasers and laser beams, and the use of semiconductor lasers in ultrafast pulse generation Reviews applications of visible and near-infrared emitting lasers and mid- and far-infrared emitting lasers