A new method for computing nonlinear carrier diffusion in semiconductor optical devices

The solution of carrier diffusion equations typically associated with semiconductor optical devices has been achieved by combining a function expansion scheme, using the Hermite-Gauss functions as the basis set, with the collocation numerical procedure. Results for a wide range of cases obtained by this new scheme compare very favorably with those calculated with other methods. Not only is the present process computationally fast and efficient, but it has the added attraction of providing the basis for conveniently solving also the nonlinear electromagnetic wave equation for the self-consistent modeling of such devices