Two-dimensional simulator for semiconductor lasers

A versatile two-dimensional simulator for continuous-wave semiconductor lasers has been developed. The simulator is capable of spectral analysis of quantum-well semiconductor lasers, such as gain-spectrum analysis, as well as analysis of the two-dimensional current flow and optical intensity pattern. The simulator is also capable of computing the internal two-dimensional temperature distribution of the laser. To develop the simulator, the authors have included a heat transfer equation for optoelectronic semiconductor devices and have developed a modified Scharfetter-Gummel algorithm which can solve the carrier-continuity equations with the temperature as an independent variable. They also have used the accurate photon rate equation for each Fabry-Perot mode. For the optical intensity pattern, they have directly solved the two-dimensional Helmholtz eigenvalue equation using the simultaneous iteration method. To demonstrate the simulator, a model graded-index separate-confinement-heterostructure buried-quantum-well laser is analyzed.<>