Patent · US Expired

Method for quantum well intermixing using pre-annealing enhanced defects diffusion

US6984538B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
3References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 3, 2003
Grant dateJan 10, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 27, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S5/3414
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A process for shifting the bandgap energy of a quantum well layer (e.g., a III-V semiconductor quantum well layer) without inducing complex crystal defects or generating significant free carriers. The process includes introducing ions into a quantum well structure at an elevated temperature, for example, in the range of from about 200° C. to about 700° C. The quantum well structure that has had ions introduced therein includes upper and lower barrier layers with quantum well layers therebetween. The quantum well structure is then pre-annealed at a temperature and time that does not induce quantum well intermixing, but does diffuse the point defects closer to the quantum well layer. Finally, the structure is thermally annealed at a higher temperature to induce quantum well intermixing (QWI) in the quantum well structure, which shifts the bandgap energy of the quantum well layer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.