Contents

Optical process in semiconductors

Emission types
Luminescence
Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
LASERs
Types of optical sources
There are three main types of optical light
source are available:
 Wide band sources (incandescent lamps)
 Incoherent sources (LEDs)
 Coherent sources (LASERs)
 Light emission in semiconductors
pn-junction under zero bias pn-junction under forward bias
Barrier
potential CB
Electrons
CB
Electrons
Radiation
Eg

Holes Holes

p-type n-type p-type n-type

Wavelength of hc 1244
0   nm
emitted light Eg Eg
 Light emission in semiconductors

E CB CB

Eg Eg

VB VB

Indirect band gap Direct band gap

K
Emission Characteristics of
various semiconductors

1110
1850
 Heterojunction semiconductor
light sources
P-type n-type P-type n-type
GaAlAs GaAlAs GaAs

1.7 eV 1.7 eV
GaAs Electrons

1.42 eV
Holes

Single heterostructure (SH)

Heterojunction semiconductor
light sources
n-GaAs N-type
P-type
AlGaAs
AlGaAs
Electrons

1.72 eV
1.42 eV
1.72 eV

Holes

n=3.45 n=3.59 n=3.45

Double heterostructure (DH)

The light emitting diodes
Drawbacks of LEDs:
 Lower optical power (microwatts)

 Lower modulation bandwidth

 Harmonic distortion
The light emitting diodes
Merits of LEDS:
 Simpler fabrication

 Low cost

 Reliability

 Generally less temperature dependence

 Simpler drive circuitry

 Linearity
 LED structures

p-type
epitaxial Light output
layer
n-type

n-type substrate

p-type Ohmic contact

Planar LED Ohmic

Dome LED contacts
Surface emitting LED
Fiber

Epoxy resin
Contact
N-type substrate

N Double
p heterojunction
P
SiO2
Gold heatsink
Edge emitting LED

Contact
SiO2
N
n
p
P-type
substrate

Gold heatsink
LASER light sources

 What is LASER?
 Emission processes
 How laser oscillates
The LASERs
Light Amplification by Stimulated
Emission of Radiation (LASER)
Type of lasers

 Solid state lasers

 Semiconductor lasers
 Gas lasers
 Dye lasers
Absorption and Emission of
Radiation
Initial state Final state

Absorption

Spontaneous
emission

Stimulated
emission
Population inversion
Let N1 be the number of electrons in lower state and
N2 be the number of electrons in upper state

If it is possible to buildup the condition so that N2 greater

than N1 then this condition is called population inversion
condition. Under population condition stimulated emission
occurs

Stimulated
emission
Basic construction of Laser
Photon
Mirror with Mirror with
multiplication
100% partially
reflective reflective
Amplified
light !!
Gain medium

Initial
Laser pump
state
Energy to create non
equilibrium state