Accession Number:

ADP007869

Title:

Low Power Optical Nonlinearities Produced by Spatially Separated Electron/Hole Plasmas,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

PHILIPS RESEARCH LABS REDHILL (UNITED KINGDOM)

Personal Author(s):

• Dawson, P.
• Galbraith, I.
• Foxon, C. T.

Report Date:

1992-05-22

Pagination or Media Count:

4.0

Abstract:

Quantum well structures have received a great deal of interest as nonlinear elements in a variety of optical systems. In the absence of non-radiative recombination the dominant factor which controls the density of the electronhole plasma which mediates the nonlinearity is the radiative lifetime. Thus if we wish to reduce the required optical power density in such systems we must maximise the radiative lifetime. In type I quantum wells the radiative lifetime T 1OK is of the order of 500 psl which leads to critical power densities of approx. kWcM2. This lifetime is governed by the strong spatial overlap of the electron and hole wavefunctions. In type II quantum wells, by definition, the electron hole wavefunction overlap is greatly reduced leading to increased radiative lifetimes and hence low power optical nonlinearities.

Descriptors:

• *ELECTRON GAS
• *QUANTUM ELECTRONICS
• CONTROL
• DENSITY
• ELECTRONS
• LOW POWER
• OVERLAP
• POWER
• STRUCTURES
• UNITED KINGDOM
• PLASMAS(PHYSICS)
• HOLES(ELECTRON DEFICIENCIES)

Subject Categories:

• Electricity and Magnetism

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE