Tunneling modulation of a quantum-well transistor laser

M. Feng, J. Qiu, C. Y. Wang, N. Holonyak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Different than the Bardeen and Brattain transistor (1947) with the current gain depending on the ratio of the base carrier spontaneous recombination lifetime to the emitter-collector transit time, the Feng and Holonyak transistor laser current gain depends upon the base electron-hole (e-h) stimulated recombination, the base dielectric relaxation transport, and the collector stimulated tunneling. For the n-p-n transistor laser tunneling operation, the electron-hole pairs are generated at the collector junction under the influence of intra-cavity photon-assisted tunneling, with electrons drifting to the collector and holes drifting to the base. The excess charge in the base lowers the emitter junction energy barrier, allowing emitter electron injection into the base and satisfying charge neutrality via base dielectric relaxation transport (∼femtoseconds). The excess electrons near the collector junction undergo stimulated recombination at the base quantum-well or transport to the collector, thus supporting tunneling current amplification and optical modulation of the transistor laser.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number204501
JournalJournal of Applied Physics
Volume120
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 28 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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