Coupled Mode Theory for Semiconductor Nanowires

Abstract

We present a model to describe the spatiotemporal evolution of guided modes in semiconductor nanowires based on a coupled mode formalism. Light-matter interaction is modelled based on semiconductor Bloch equations, including many-particle effects in the screened Hartree-Fock approximation. Appropriate boundary conditions are used to incorporate reflections at waveguide endfacets, thus allowing for the simulation of nanowire lasing. We compute the emission characteristics and temporal dynamics of CdS and ZnO nanowire lasers and compare our results both to Finite-Difference Time-Domain simulations and to experimental data. Finally, we explore the dependence of the lasing emission on the nanowire cavity and on the materials relaxation time.