Single quantum well edge emitting broadband LED

The use of a single quantum well structure in an effort to develop an edge emitting LED with an extremely broad spectral width has been studied. The device is unique in that it utilises the gain saturation effect in the quantum well structure to populate the quantised n=2 sublevel of the quantum well. The resultant device has an extremely broad output spectral width of over 95 nm (FWHM) and emits 3.2 mW at a drive current of 200 mA. The distinctive step-like spectral response exhibits two levels which can be attributed to the quantised n=1 and n=2 sublevels of the 100 AA single quantum well.