LOW THRESHOLD PULSED AND CONTINUOUS-WAVE LASER ACTION IN OPTICALLY PUMPED (ZN,CD)SE/ZNSE MULTIPLE QUANTUM-WELL LASERS IN THE BLUE-GREEN

Laser action in the blue-green at room temperature has been achieved in pulsed optically pumped (Zn,Cd)Se/ZnSe multiple quantum well structures at threshold intensities I(th) almost-equal-to 30 kW/cm2. Continuous-wave operation in a II-VI semiconductor laser has also been demonstrated for the first time, here above 100 K. The role of excitons is found to be of importance in defining the lasing mechanism up to room temperature in these quasi-two-dimensional wide-gap heterostructures.