Quantum-dot (QD) lasers have fallen short of their promise of ultralow threshold and high characteristic temperature. Here, we report that QDs show great promise for controlling lateral carrier leakage. While oxide apertures continue to enable improved performance in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) by reducing optical losses and current spreading, lateral carrier losses remain uncontrolled. We investigate QD active material in which lateral diffusion is intentionally reduced. Cathodoluminescence results demonstrate reduced lateral diffusion in the material with which we expect >50% reduction in the threshold current for 1-μm-wide edge emitters or 5-μm-diam VCSELs. However, initial edge-emitter results demonstrated 10% reduction due to unintended current spreading and lasing from higher states.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.