POSSIBLE MODEL FOR SUSTAINED OSCILLATIONS (PULSATIONS) IN (AL,GA)AS DOUBLE-HETEROSTRUCTURE LASERS

A model explaining the origins of sustained oscillations in (Al,Ga)As double-heterostructure lasers is proposed and plausibility arguments of its applicability are given. The model relies on saturable-absorber Q-switching to produce the pulsations, with the saturable absorption located near the ends of the laser in regions where surface recombination reduces the injectedCarrier density. The sides of the active volume, or defects which cause carrier recombination within the active volume, may also cause such pulsations according to this model. Copyright © 1979 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.