Physics of Semiconductor Lasers

In order to facilitate a good introduction to the subject, the major part of the book has been devoted to detailed discussion of the principles of operation of semiconductor lasers and of the physical phenomena relevant to the design of these devices. Much of the information on physics of semiconductor lasers is available here for the first time in book form, making it a valuable reference source for all researches in the field. Physics have been supplemented by description of the properties of the semiconductor materials and of the technological processes employed in the fabrication of semiconductor lasers made both from AIII-BV and AIV-BVI compounds. An effort has been made to include as much information as possible on advanced laser structures, such as quantum well lasers, high power arrays, visible lasers and surface emitting lasers. In consideration of the enormous quantity of the laser structures that had been described in the literature, an attempt has been made to present a synthesis of the various design concepts. The book consist of 480 pages, and contains many figures and tables. It is hoped that it will be of interest both to the newcomers to the field as well as to the established specialists. It can also serve as a textbook as it contains all the information necessary to understand the principles of semiconductor lasers and their properties. An extensive bibliography listed after each chapter will guide the reader to the original literature and should be sufficient for introducing him into all existent data concerning the subject. This volume is a revised edition of a book written originally in Polish. The authors have updated both its contents and form, achieving much improved overall organization of the contents in the process.