Silicon Nanocrystals: Fundamental Theory and Implications for Stimulated Emission

Silicon nanocrystals (NCs) represent one of the most promising material systems for light emission applications in microphotonics. In recent years, several groups have reported on the observation of optical gain or stimulated emission in silicon NCs or in porous silicon (PSi). These results suggest...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advances in optical technologies 2008, Vol.2008 (1)
Main Authors: Belyakov, V. A., Burdov, V. A., Lockwood, R., Meldrum, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Colleges & universities
Energy transfer
Gain
Lasers
Light emission
Mathematical analysis
Nanocrystals
Problems
Quantum dots
Silicon
Stimulated emission
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Summary:Silicon nanocrystals (NCs) represent one of the most promising material systems for light emission applications in microphotonics. In recent years, several groups have reported on the observation of optical gain or stimulated emission in silicon NCs or in porous silicon (PSi). These results suggest that silicon-NC-based waveguide amplifiers or silicon lasers are achievable. However, in order to obtain clear and reproducible evidence of stimulated emission, it is necessary to understand the physical mechanisms at work in the light emission process. In this paper, we report on the detailed theoretical aspects of the energy levels and recombination rates in doped and undoped Si NCs, and we discuss the effects of energy transfer mechanisms. The theoretical calculations are extended toward computational simulations of ensembles of interacting nanocrystals. We will show that inhomogeneous broadening and energy transfer remain significant problems that must be overcome in order to improve the gain profile and to minimize nonradiative effects. Finally, we suggest means by which these objectives may be achieved.
ISSN:1687-6393
1687-6407
DOI:10.1155/2008/279502