Thermal Properties of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Diode Lasers and Arrays

拟议研究的目标是首次对垂直腔面发射半导体激光器和二维激光阵列进行全面的热研究。虽然人们普遍认为热问题对垂直腔面发射器至关重要，但这些问题实际上仍未得到探索。本项目的基本目标是深入了解影响垂直腔面发射激光器热行为的主要因素，并利用这些知识来提高器件的性能。在项目的初始阶段，我们将集中研究单个表面发射激光器。我们将开发一个热电自洽模型，它具有真实的热源分布，并考虑了二维电流和热扩散，并将其应用于几种最先进的垂直腔激光器结构。我们还将研究单个发射器中的热效应对它们集成到二维阵列中的影响。热-电自洽将被包含光学现象和完全自洽处理所补充，以检查加热对单个表面发射体和二维阵列的光学性质的影响。这项研究有望为高性能垂直腔面发射激光器和用于光学处理和光学互连等新应用的二维阵列的先进设计提供重要信息。

The objective of the proposed research is to undertake the first comprehensive thermal studies of vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers and two-dimensional laser arrays. Although there is a general consensus that thermal problems are of utmost importance for vertical-cavity surface emitters, they remain virtually unexplored. The underlying goal of this project is to reach a good understanding of main factors which govern the thermal behavior of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser and to use this knowledge to improve the device performance. In the initial phase of the project, we will concentrate on studies of individual surface-emitting lasers. We will develop a thermal-electrical self-consistent model, with realistic distribution of heat sources and accounting for two- dimensional current- and heat spreading, and apply it to several types of state-of-the-art vertical cavity laser structures. We will also examine impact of thermal effects in individual emitters on their integration into two-dimensional arrays. The thermal-electrical self-consistency will then be complemented by inclusion of optical phenomena and fully self- consistent treatment will be developed to examine effects of heating on optical properties of individual surface emitters and two-dimensional arrays. The proposed research is expected to provide important information for advanced design of high- performance vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and two- dimensional arrays for novel applications such as optical processing and optical interconnects.