Optical Gain in Semiconductors

Dear Colleagues,

Optical gain in semiconductors is the phenomenon that reveals light amplification in monolithic electron devices. Despite the apparent narrow linewidth of this, if compared with optical gain in arbitrary systems or with the general properties and performances of semiconductor materials and devices, it is vast indeed. Theoretical investigation spans from Einstein’s dazzling intuition concerning stimulated emission to its formalization within quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. Furthermore, we must invoke solid-state physics for describing and modeling matter, the counterpart of light in this game of interaction. It is the realm in which Bloch and Bragg first played parallel games with matter and light waves. Steady-state solutions and dynamic phenomena, bulk effects and low dimensionality, new materials with semiconductor properties and complex band architectures are explored, case by case, to investigate and explain observations and to design new experiments and new structures. New structures, in turn, lead to devices, whose design and manufacture call for engineering and technology. Here, optical gain transforms from a physical phenomenon into a measurable key quantity for optoelectronic device engineering. Its balance with optical losses determines the capability of any light-emitting device becoming a laser. Terms such as threshold current, so crucial even in a technical datasheet of commercial laser diodes, are intimately linked to optical gain. Moreover, spatial gain modulation also allows for local optical confinement and waveguiding, another mandatory step in optoelectronic device technology. The pervasive employment of photonic and optoelectronic devices in ICT brought about mass production and the additional involvement of many different and complementary skills in the field of material science, optics, electronics, process engineering, reliability. Because of such a complex scenario, the worlds of theoretical physics, material science, and device design and technology continuously interact, but they do not always speak the same language. For this reason, a Special Issue on “Optical Gain in Semiconductors” must comprise many perspectives, including, but not limited to, all the previously mentioned areas.

Prof. Dr. Massimo Vanzi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• light-matter interaction in semiconductors
• semiconductor optical emitters
• optical gain and optical losses
• gain and loss measurement
• optical cavities in semiconductor emitters
• waveguiding
• quantum wells, wires and dots: devices and performances in terms of gain and loss
• gain in quantum cascade lasers
• degradation mechanisms and kinetics and their impact an gain and loss