Large signal analysis of multiple quantum well transistor laser: Investigation of imbalanced carrier and photon density distribution

Abstract

In this paper, we present a large-signal and switching analysis for the Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor Laser (HBTL) to reveal its optical and electrical behavior under high current injection conditions. Utilizing appropriate models for carrier transport, nonlinear optical gain, and optical confinement factor, we have simulated the large-signal response of the HBTL in relatively low and high modulation frequencies. Our results predict that for multiple quantum well (MQW) structures at low frequencies, there should not be a difference in either the carrier density or the photon density. However, the carrier concentration can be differently distributed between subsequent wells in the case of a high speed yet large-signal input. This leads to increased linewidth instead as it depends on ΔNqw. We show the effect of different structural parameters on the switching behavior by performing a switching analysis of the single quantum well and MQW structures using computationally efficient numerical methods. A set of coupled rate equations are solved to investigate the large-signal and switching behavior of MQW-HBTL. Finally, to have a comprehensive judgment about this optoelectronic device, we introduce a relative performance factor taking into account all the optoelectronic characteristics such as the output power, ac current gain, modulation bandwidth, and base threshold current, as well as turn-on time in order to design a suitable TL for optoelectronic integrated circuits.