Evidence of the wavelength switching caused by a blocked carrier transport in an asymmetric dual quantum well laser

Abstract

The mechanism of wavelength switching in an asymmetric dual quantum well laser was investigated. Switching between 830 and 780 nm was achieved, with increasing injection current under cw as well as under pulsed operation. This is the widest switching range of monolithic LDs under cw operation ever reported. Time-resolved spectra for the dual-wavelength simultaneous lasing under short-pulse operation show that emissions at the two wavelengths have a time difference. This provides evidence that holes are inhomogeneously injected into the two wells with a time difference and that their dynamics govern the lasing for each wavelength and the switching.