Efficient small-area GaAs-Ga_1-xAl_xAs heterostructure electroluminescent diodes coupled to optical fibers

Abstract

A GaAs-Ga 1-x Al x As heterostructure prepared by liquid-phase epitaxy has been employed in the fabrication of efficient small-area (50-µm diameter) electroluminescent diodes, and the light output has been coupled into optical fibers. The light output through a short fiber was about 1 mW at a wavelength of 0.9 µm for a bias current of 200 mA dc. By comparison, the output from the most efficient diffused GaAs diodes of similar geometry was about 0.4 mW at this current.