Comparative study of InGaAs quantum dot lasers with different degrees of dot layer confinement

We report a comparative study of the gain and lasing characteristics of two different InGaAs quantum dot (QD) laser designs, with multiple QD layers separated by barriers of (A) GaAs or (B) GaAs/AlGaAs. A higher degree of carrier confinement in structure B results in superior lasing characteristics at elevated temperatures. However, at temperatures below 130 K these devices demonstrate inhomogeneously broadened gain spectra, resulting in lasing over a much wider energy range than for structure A. The results are consistent with inefficient, low temperature interdot carrier transport in devices based on structure B. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.