Quantum well optical device on silicon
First Claim
1. An optical semiconductor structure comprising:
- a) a silicon base layer;
b) a silicon compound layer formed on said silicon base layer, said silicon compound layer including at least a first window therein;
c) at least a first epitaxially grown crystalline structure formed on said silicon base layer in said first window, said crystalline structure being formed from a material that is near lattice matched with said silicon base layer; and
,d) at least a first quantum well layer formed in said first crystalline structure which forms a first active light emitting region for said optical semiconductor structure.
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Abstract
A semiconductor structure for use in forming optical devices, such as lasers and LEDs, is disclosed. The structure includes a silicon base on which is formed by epitaxial growth, a crystalline material (such as AlGaP) structure or region that is nearly lattice matched to silicon. One or more quantum wells are formed in the crystalline material structure. A quantum well can be made of a direct bandgap material or an indirect bandgap material with isoelectronic centers (IECs). The regions on either side of the quantum wells can be graded to form a graded index separate confinement heterostructure (GRINSCH). To reduce problems of warpage, the crystalline material can be epitaxially grown in windows formed in a layer of silicon nitride or silicon dioxide on the silicon substrate. A multi-color array of optical devices can be provided with this structure.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An optical semiconductor structure comprising:
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a) a silicon base layer; b) a silicon compound layer formed on said silicon base layer, said silicon compound layer including at least a first window therein; c) at least a first epitaxially grown crystalline structure formed on said silicon base layer in said first window, said crystalline structure being formed from a material that is near lattice matched with said silicon base layer; and
,d) at least a first quantum well layer formed in said first crystalline structure which forms a first active light emitting region for said optical semiconductor structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An optical semiconductor structure comprising:
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a) a silicon base layer; b) an epitaxially grown crystalline structure disposed on said silicon base layer, said crystalline structure being composed of a material which is near lattice matched with said silicon base layer; c) a first quantum well layer formed in said crystalline structure forming an active light emitting region for said optical semiconductor structure; and d) first and second graded index regions on either side of said first quantum well layer in said crystalline structure which forms a graded index separate confinement heterostructure. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An optical semiconductor structure comprising:
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a) a silicon base layer; b) an epitaxially grown crystalline structure disposed on said silicon base layer, said crystalline structure being composed of a material that is near lattice matched with said silicon base layer; and
,c) at least a first quantum well layer formed in said crystalline structure forming an active light emitting region for said optical semiconductor structure, wherein said quantum well layer is formed from a material that is lattice mismatched with said crystalline structure, and has a thickness less than a critical thickness above which dislocations will form between said quantum well layer and said crystalline structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification