Objective
Intersubband quantum well lasers for the mid- infrared spectral region were first predicted by a group in St. Petersburg in 1971. Despite the great interest in these structures, intersubband laser operation was only demonstrated for the first time in 1994 by a group working at AT&T Bell Laboratories in the United States. These lasers are particularly needed for environmental applications such as pollution monitoring.
The main purpose of the present project is to develop a European research effort on new types of infrared lasers based on intra- and inter-subband transitions of hot carriers in quantum wells. The physical mechanisms to be used in our project differ from those of the Bell Labs laser, and this will simplify the design of the quantum well structures, and permit the extension of the emission range to the far-infrared spectral region beyond 30 microns. The simplification of the design is badly needed, because the Bell Labs structure was extremely complex, and required very small tolerance margins on the growth parameters. The population inversion of the lasers will be achieved either by optical pumping, or by heating by electrical fields during lateral transport or by tunelling during vertical transport. The majority of the work of the project will be performed using the GaAs/AlGaAs, InGaAs/GaAs, and Ge/GeSi quantum well structures grown by the participants of the project in Russia.
The optical phenomena connected with the population inversion mechanisms will be investigated experimentally and theoretically. The modulation and spontaneous emission of mid- and far-infrared radiation due to inter- and intra-subband transitions associated with carrier heating of hot electrons and holes by longitudinal electrical fields will be studied for the first time. Resonant tunnelling of electrons and holes will be investigated, as well as the field- induced birefringence in quantum wells caused by electron heating effects. Far infrared experiments in the wavelength range 80-200 microns will be performed using the newly developed tunable hot hole germanium laser at St. Petersburg. The experimental data for the different phenomena will be compared the theory. This will permit the determination of the parameters of the quantum wells, the characteristics of the hot electrons and holes, and the mechanisms of the interaction of electrons and holes with lattice vibrations, impurities, heterointerfaces.
The results of the experimental and theoretical work will be submitted as joint publications in the research journals and as presentations at international conferences.
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Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding Scheme
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Coordinator
OX1 3RH OXFORD
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.