Direct comparison of optical characteristics of InGaN-based laser diode structures grown on pendeo epitaxial GaN and sapphire substrates

Direct comparison of optical properties and carrier dynamics of InGaN multiple quantum well (MQW) laser diode structures grown on pendeo epitaxial (PE)-GaN and sapphire substrates is reported. A strong increase in quantum efficiency and a dramatic reduction in stimulated emission threshold are observed for InGaN MQWs on PE-GaN substrates as compared to MQWs on sapphire substrates. Based on temperature-dependent time-resolved optical analysis, the authors find that a significant increase in nonradiative lifetime due to suppressed dislocation density plays an important role in enhancing optical properties of InGaN MQWs grown on PE-GaN substrates, resulting in radiative-process dominant emission even at room temperature. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.