Quantum design of semiconductor active materials: Laser and amplifier applications

We present an overview of a novel first-principles quantum approach to designing and optimizing semiconductor quantum-well material systems for target wavelengths. Using these microscopic inputs as basic building blocks we predict the light-current (LI) characteristic for a low power InGaPAs ridge laser without having to use adjustable fit parameters. Finally we employ these microscopic inputs to develop sophisticated simulation capabilities for designing and optimizing end packaged high power laser structures. As an explicit example of the latter, we consider the design of a vertical external cavity semiconductor laser (VECSEL). A graph is presented. Experimental (circles and squares) and theoretical (solid lines) photoluminescence (green/blue) and modal gain (black/red) for a 5-nm wide InGaAs quantum well sandwiched between GaAs barriers.