Abstract
Emerging optical technology capable of addressing the limits in modern electronics must incorporate unique solutions to bring about a revolution in high-speed, on-chip data communication and information processing. Among the possible optical devices that can be developed, the electrically driven, ultrasmall semiconductor light source is the most essential element for a compact, power-efficient photonic integrated circuit. In this review, we cover the recent development of the electrically driven light-emitting devices based on various micro- and nano-scale semiconductor optical cavities. We also discuss the recent advances in the integration of these light sources with passive photonic circuits.
Highlights
The exponential growth in the information volume on networks including the Internet, with fiber-to-the-home or the fiber-to-the-premises, increasingly demands compact, power-efficient, and fast data processing
The realization of electrically pumped, power-efficient, ultra-small light sources is essential for the practical applications of compact photonic integrated circuits
We review the recent development in electrically driven micro- and nano-scale semiconductor light sources, mainly focusing on various designs of optical cavities and corresponding carrier injection schemes
Summary
The exponential growth in the information volume on networks including the Internet, with fiber-to-the-home or the fiber-to-the-premises, increasingly demands compact, power-efficient, and fast data processing. Among the various photonic elements, the most essential one is a semiconductor light-emitting device such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and lasers These devices generate high-quality beams of light and serve as a robust light source in an integrated circuit. The realization of electrically pumped, power-efficient, ultra-small light sources is essential for the practical applications of compact photonic integrated circuits. We review the recent development in electrically driven micro- and nano-scale semiconductor light sources (i.e., lasers and LEDs), mainly focusing on various designs of optical cavities and corresponding carrier injection schemes. We briefly cover several critical fabrication steps that enable the experimental realization of electrically driven lasers and LEDs. we discuss the challenges and limitations related to the carrier injection scheme, device performance, and fabrication. A summary is given at the end of this review
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
