Luminescence Spectra of a Quantum-Dot Cascade Laser

Abstract

A quantum cascade laser where the quantum wells in the active regions are replaced by quantum dots with their atom-like discrete energy levels is an interesting system to study novel features in optical spectroscopy. We study structures suitable for diagonal lasing transitions in coupled dots, and vertical lasing transitions in a single dot, in the active regions of the laser device. The luminescence spectra as a function of electron number and dot size show that for diagonal transitions, a significant amount of blue-shift in the emission spectra can be achieved by increasing electron population in the quantum dots as well as by decreasing the size of the dots.