Influence of non-equilibrium carrier dynamics on pulse amplification in semiconductor gain media

C. N. Böttge, J. Hader, I. Kilen, S. W. Koch, J. V. Moloney

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The influence of non-equilibrium carrier dynamics on pulse propagation through inverted semiconductor gain media is investigated. For this purpose, a fully microscopic many-body model is coupled to a Maxwell solver, allowing for a self-consistent investigation of the light-matter-coupling and carrier dynamics, the optical response of the laser and absorber in the multiple-quantum-well medium, and the modification of the light field through the resulting optical polarization. The influence of the intra-pulse dynamics on the magnitude and spectral dependence of pulse amplification for single pulses passing through inverted quantum-well media is identified. In this connection, the pulse-induced non-equilibrium deviations of the carrier distributions, the kinetic-hole filling kinetics in the gain medium, and the saturable-absorber-relaxation dynamics are scrutinized. While pulses shorter than about 100 fs are found to be rather unaffected by the carrier-relaxation dynamics, the pump-related dynamics become prominent for pulses in the multi-picosecond range leading to significant amplification.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationVertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) V
EditorsMircea Guina
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781628414394
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
EventVertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) V - San Francisco, United States
Duration: Feb 9 2015Feb 10 2015

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9349

Other

OtherVertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) V
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period2/9/152/10/15

Keywords

  • Laser theory
  • VECSELs
  • carrier scattering
  • kinetic holes
  • semiconductor lasers
  • ultrashort pulses

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Influence of non-equilibrium carrier dynamics on pulse amplification in semiconductor gain media'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this