Ultra-low threshold InAs/GaAs quantum dot microdisk lasers on planar on-axis Si (001) substrates

Abstract

Monolithic integration of efficient III-V light-emitting sources on planar on-axis Si (001) has been recognized as an enabling technology for realizing Si-based photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The field of microdisk lasers employing quantum dot (QD) materials is gaining significant momentum because it allows massive-scalable, streamlined fabrication of Si-based PICs to be made cost effectively. Here, we present InAs/GaAs QD microdisk lasers monolithically grown on on-axis Si (001) substrate with an ultra-low lasing threshold at room temperature under continuous-wave optical pumping. The lasing characteristics of microdisk lasers with small diameter (D) around 2 μm and subwavelength scale (D∼1.1 μm) are demonstrated, with a lasing threshold as low as ∼3 μW. The promising lasing characteristics of the microdisk lasers with ultra-low power consumption and small footprint represent a major advance towards large-scale, low-cost integration of laser sources on the Si platform.

Recent progress in epitaxial growth of III–V quantum-dot lasers on silicon substrate

“…Recently, Zhou et al have developed a CW optically pumped InAs/GaAs QD MD directly grown on on-axis Si (001) substrate [70]. Above the buffer layer, three stacked InAs/In 0.15 Ga 0.85 As/GaAs dot-in-well (DWELL) active layers were sandwiched by two Al 0.4 Ga 0.6 As cladding layers.…”

Optically-pumped InAs/GaAs quantum-dot microdisk lasers monolithically grown on on-axis Si (001) substrate

“…In this work, we demonstrate low-threshold lasing in InAs/GaAs QDs microdisk lasers monolithically grown on on-axis Si (001) substrate under room-temperature CW optical pumping. 9 Lasing emission of microdisk lasers with diameter (D) ∼ 1.9 µm and sub-wavelength scale (D ∼ 1.1 µm) were illustrated, and ultra-low threshold ∼ 3 µW was obtained.…”

Ultra-thin curved visible microdisk lasers with three-dimensional whispering gallery modes

“…Microcavities with the whispering gallery modes (WGMs) have triggered intense research interest in both realistic applications and fundamental science, such as linear and nonlinear optics [1,2], strongly coupled cavity quantum electrodynamics [3], as well as compact microlasers [4]. Light is strongly trapped in-plane by successive total internal reflections at the circular periphery of the cavity surface within various geometric configurations, including microspheres [2,4], microtoroids [1,5,6], microrings [7,8], as well as microdisks [9,10]. In particular, semiconductor microdisk lasers have attracted considerable attention and are presently significant elements of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) [11][12][13], benefiting from their intrinsic small footprints, wafer-scale fabrication and chip-integration.…”