Mechanism of efficient ultraviolet lasing in GaN/AlGaN separate-confinement heterostructures

Abstract

We report the results of an experimental study on efficient laser action in an optically pumped GaN/AlGaN separate-confinement heterostructure (SCH) in the temperature range of 10–300 K. The lasing threshold was measured to be as low as 15 kW/cm2 at 10 K and 105 kW/cm2 at room temperature. Strongly polarized (TE:TM⩾300:1) lasing peaks were observed over the wavelength range of 358–367 nm. We found high-finesse lasing modes that originate from self-formed microcavities in the AlGaN and GaN layers. Through analysis of the relative shift between spontaneous emission and lasing peaks, combined with the temperature dependence of the lasing threshold, we conclude that exciton–exciton scattering is the dominant gain mechanism leading to low-threshold ultraviolet lasing in the GaN/AlGaN SCH over the entire temperature range studied. Based on our results, we discuss possibilities for the development of ultraviolet laser diodes with a GaN active medium.