Quantum Dot Heterostructures

Da die Nachfrage nach immer schnelleren und kleineren Halbleiterbauelementen stetig wächst, sind Quanten-Dots und -Pyramiden rasant in den Mittelpunkt der Halbleiterforschung gerückt. Dieses Buch vermittelt einen umfassenden Überblick über den aktuellen Forschungsstand auf diesem Gebiet. Behandelt werden u.a. Fragen, wie Strukturen aufgebaut, wie sie charakterisiert werden und wie sie die Leistungsfähigkeit der Bauelemente bestimmen. (11/98)

This book looks at the effects of ion implantation as an effective post-growth technique to improve the material properties, and ultimately, the device performance of In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum dot (QD) heterostructures. Over the past two decades, In(Ga)As/GaAs-based QD heterostructures have marked their superiority, particularly for application in lasers and photodetectors. Several in-situ and ex-situ techniques that improve material quality and device performance have already been reported. These techniques are necessary to maintain dot density and dot size uniformity in QD heterostructures and also to improve the material quality of heterostructures by removing defects from the system. While rapid thermal annealing, pulsed laser annealing and the hydrogen passivation technique have been popular as post-growth methods, ion implantation had not been explored largely as a post-growth method for improving the material properties of In(Ga)As/GaAs QD heterostructures. This work attempts to remedy this gap in the literature. The work also looks at introduction of a capping layer of quaternary alloy InAlGaAs over these In(Ga)As/GaAs QDs to achieve better QD characteristics. The contents of this volume will prove useful to researchers and professionals involved in the study of QDs and QD-based devices.

This book explores the effects of growth pause or ripening time on the properties of quantum dots(QDs). It covers the effects of post-growth rapid thermal annealing (RTA) treatment on properties of single layer QDs. The effects of post-growth rapid thermal annealing (RTA) treatment on properties of single layer QDs are discussed. The book offers insight into InAs/GaAs bilayer QD heterostructures with very thin spacer layers and discusses minimum spacer thickness required to grow electronically coupled bilayer QD heterostructures. These techniques make bilayer QD heterostructures a better choice over the single layer and uncoupled multilayer QD heterostructure. Finally, the book discusses sub-monolayer (SML) growth technique to grow QDs. This recent technique has been proven to improve the device performance significantly. The contents of this monograph will prove useful to researchers and professionals alike.

The book addresses issues associated with physics and technology of injection lasers based on self-organized quantum dots. Fundamental and technological aspects of quantum dot edge-emitting lasers and VCSELs, their current status and future prospects are summarized and reviewed. Basic principles of QD formation using self-organization phenomena are reviewed. Structural and optical properties of self-organized QDs are considered with a number of examples in different material systems. Recent achievements in controlling the QD properties including the effects of vertical stacking, changing the matrix bandgap and the surface density of QDs are reviewed. The authors focus on the use of self-organized quantum dots in laser structures, fabrication and characterization of edge and surface emitting diode lasers, their properties and optimization with special attention paid to the relationship between structural and electronic properties of QDs and laser characteristics. The threshold and power characteristics of the state-of-the-art QD lasers are demonstrated. Issues related to the long-wavelength (1.3-mm) lasers on a GaAs substrate are also addressed and recent results on InGaAsN-based diode lasers presented for the purpose of comparison.

The reduction of dimensionality of the carrier motion in quantum nanostructures brings new, interesting effects in semiconductor physics. In addition, it opens an exciting possibility of improving the device performance. It has been predicted that the delta-function like density of states inherent for the objects with three-dimensional quantum confinement (quantum dots) should lead to the decrease in threshold current density, and improvement of its temperature stability (for semiconductor injection lasers when the quantum dot heterostructures are used as an active region). In the present work we discuss the synthesis of InAs/GaAs quantum dots by using self-organization phenomena at the initial stages of strained layer heteroepitaxy. We show that the driving force for the island formation is strain accumulating during the deposition of the lattice mismatched material. Quantum dot size and shape are presented and their optical properties are discussed. The characteristics of quantum dot injection lasers are shown. The ways to reduce threshold current density and improve its temperature stability are demonstrated. The band-gap and strain engineering are shown to be effective tools for controlling the quantum dot optical emission range.

This is an overview of different models and mechanisms developed to describe the capture and relaxation of carriers in quantum-dot systems. Despite their undisputed importance, the mechanisms leading to population and energy exchanges between a quantum dot and its environment are not yet fully understood. The authors develop a first-order approach to such effects, using elementary quantum mechanics and an introduction to the physics of semiconductors. The book results from a series of lectures given by the authors at the Master’s level.

This book describes the full range of possible strategies for laterally aligning self-assembled quantum dots on a substrate surface, beginning with pure self-ordering mechanisms and culminating with forced alignment by lithographic positioning. The text addresses both short- and long-range ordering phenomena and introduces future high integration of single quantum dot devices on a single chip. Contributions by well-known experts ensure that all relevant quantum-dot heterostructures are elucidated from diverse perspectives.

Captures the most up-to-date research in the field, written in an accessible style by the world's leading experts.

Quantum Wells, Wires and Dots provides all the essential information, both theoretical and computational, to develop an understanding of the electronic, optical and transport properties of these semiconductor nanostructures. The book will lead the reader through comprehensive explanations and mathematical derivations to the point where they can design semiconductor nanostructures with the required electronic and optical properties for exploitation in these technologies. This fully revised and updated 4th edition features new sections that incorporate modern techniques and extensive new material including: Properties of non-parabolic energy bands Matrix solutions of the Poisson and Schrödinger equations Critical thickness of strained materials Carrier scattering by interface roughness, alloy disorder and impurities Density matrix transport modelling Thermal modelling Written by well-known authors in the field of semiconductor nanostructures and quantum optoelectronics, this user-friendly guide is presented in a lucid style with easy to follow steps, illustrative examples and questions and computational problems in each chapter to help the reader build solid foundations of understanding to a level where they can initiate their own theoretical investigations. Suitable for postgraduate students of semiconductor and condensed matter physics, the book is essential to all those researching in academic and industrial laboratories worldwide. Instructors can contact the authors directly ([email protected] / [email protected]) for Solutions to the problems.

Quantum Heterostructures provides a detailed description of the key physical and engineering principles of quantum semiconductor heterostructures. Blending important concepts from physics, materials science, and electrical engineering, it also explains clearly the behavior and operating features of modern microelectronic and optoelectronic devices. The authors begin by outlining the trends that have driven development in this field, most importantly the need for high-performance devices in computer, information, and communications technologies. They then describe the basics of quantum nanoelectronics, including various transport mechanisms. In the latter part of the book, they cover novel microelectronic devices, and optical devices based on quantum heterostructures. The book contains many homework problems and is suitable as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in electrical engineering, physics, or materials science. It will also be of great interest to those involved in research or development in microelectronic or optoelectronic devices.