Temperature dependence of the lasing wavelength of InGaAs quantum dot lasers

Abstract

We observe that the emission wavelength of edge-emitting InGaAs quantum dot lasers has a much weaker temperature dependence (0.6 Å K−1) than equivalent quantum well devices (3 Å K−1). Measured gain and absorption spectra show that the gain peak wavelength due to dot states is almost independent of temperature for a given value of peak gain whereas the absorption edge shifts at a rate of about 2 Å K−1. Above 100 K the occupancy of dot states can be described by Fermi functions and on this basis we find that the measured gain and absorption spectra are in excellent quantitative agreement. Although the band edge energy reduces with increasing temperature, this analysis shows that the energy distribution of dot states matches the evolution of the Fermi functions such as to leave the quasi Fermi level separation and the wavelength of the gain peak unchanged as a function of temperature for a given value of peak gain. This energy distribution is a consequence of the dot size distribution so the match to the Fermi functions is probably fortuitous.