Title :
Rate-equation analysis of output efficiency and modulation rate of photonic-crystal light-emitting diodes
Author :
Fan, Shanhui ; Villeneuve, Pierre R. ; Joannopoulos, J.D.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys., MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
Abstract :
The performance characteristics of photonic-crystal light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are analyzed, taking into account the effects of both nonradiative recombination and photon reabsorption processes using multimode rate equations. It is shown that, in the presence of strong photon reabsorption, the optimum output efficiency and modulation rates are achieved when the width of the photon density-of-state distribution function is comparable to the width of the spontaneous emission lineshape of the active material. On the other hand, when photon reabsorption is weak, it becomes beneficial to construct high-Q cavities. Based on this analysis, the characteristics of different photonic crystal LED configurations are discussed.
Keywords :
light emitting diodes; optical resonators; photonic band gap; spectral line breadth; spontaneous emission; LED; active material; high-Q cavities; modulation rate; modulation rates; multimode rate equations; nonradiative recombination; optimum output efficiency; output efficiency; photon density-of-state distribution function; photon reabsorption; photon reabsorption processes; photonic crystal LED configurations; photonic-crystal light-emitting diodes; rate-equation analysis; spontaneous emission lineshape; strong photon reabsorption; Equations; Geometry; Light emitting diodes; Optical coupling; Optical modulation; Performance analysis; Photonic crystals; Radiative recombination; Spontaneous emission; Stimulated emission;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
