Analysis of Wurtzite GaN/AlGaN Quantum Well Lasers from First-Principles Calculations

ABSTRACTOptical gain of wurtzite GaN/AlGaN quantum wells has been studied from a first-principles calculation using the k • p method. Most of the parameters in the k • p method were determined by fitting the band structures by the first-principles calculation. Owing to the small spin-orbit splitting energies of the wurtzite GaN and AIN, the optical gain has been calculated using the 6×6 Hamiltonian for the valence band. It is found that the large hole effective masses and the small spin-orbit splitting cause the higher threshold current density of wurtzite GaN/AlGaN quantum well lasers.