Semiconductor lasers directly photopumped by focused sunlight may be viable sources of coherent light for intersatellite communications and other low-power spaceborne applications. In this work, the possibility of realizing such devices is theoretically explored. The authors specifically assess solar pumped operation of separate-confinement-quantum-well heterostructure (SCQWH) lasers based on InGaAs, GaAs, and AlGaAs, as fabrication technology for these lasers is mature and they can operate at very low thresholds. The authors develop a model for step-index single-well SCQWH lasers photopumped by sunlight, examine how threshold solar photoexcitation intensities (or solar magnification requirements) depend upon material and structure parameters, design optimum structures for solar-pumped operation, and identify design trade offs. The present results suggest that laser action should be possible in properly designed structures at readily achievable solar concentrations (103 - 104 suns under air-mass-zero conditions), and that optimum designs for solar-pumped SCQWH lasers differ significantly from those for analogous current injection devices.


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    Title :

    Quantum-well lasers for direct solar photopumping


    Additional title:

    Quantentopflaser für direktes optisches Pumpen durch Sonnenlicht


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Journal of Applied Physics ; 74 , 6 ; 4221-4228


    Publication date :

    1993


    Size :

    8 Seiten, 4 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 25 Quellen




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




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