Comprehensive thermal-electrical self-consistent model of proton-implanted top-surface-emitting lasers

摘要

In this paper, a comprehensive, three-dimensional (3D), thermal-electrical self-consistent numerical model is described and used to investigate thermal, electrical and optical properties of GaAs-AlGaAs proton-implanted top-surface-emitting lasers (PITSELs). In the model, the current spreading between the annular top contact and the p-n junction as well as the ambipolar radial carrier diffusion inside the active layer are solved using the finite-difference technique. Then, the distribution of all important heat sources is determined and the heat spreading within the device is analysed with the aid of the finite-element method. The temperature dependence of many device and material parameters is included using the thermal-electrical self-consistent approach. Anisotropy of both thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity is taken into account. The results indicate that the carrier diffusion considerably influences the distribution of the main heat sources. Temperature and carrier density profiles in the active-region plane create an effective discrimination mechanism for higher-order transverse modes.