Enhanced tuning efficiency in tunable laser diodes using type-II superlattices

We propose a type-II AlGaAsSb-AlGaInAs heterostructure superlattice for improved electronically tunable laser diodes exploiting the free-carrier plasma effect. In electronically tunable laser diodes, commonly type-I heterostructure diodes (e.g., GaInAsP-InP) are used as tuning region; however, at equal tuning, the type-II heterostructure superlattices provide the advantage of significantly smaller recombination rates due to the spatial separation of electrons and holes. As a consequence, the required tuning currents can be reduced and the maximum achievable carrier density in an optimized type-II diode can be enhanced by about a factor of two.