MICROSCOPIC THEORY OF NONEQUILIBRIUM MICROCAVITY LASER DYNAMICS

This paper presents a microscopic analysis of the dynamic interplay be tween the nonequilibrium carrier system and the light field in a semic onductor microcavity laser system. The important aspects of the quantu m mechanical theory are summarized and the resulting equations are sol ved for the example of a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser config uration with quantum-well active material. Assuming optical pumping wi th a short pulse, the subsequent evolution of the generated carrier di stributions, the onset of lasing and the dynamics of the emission are analysed. It is shown how the microcavity emission dynamics can be inf luenced by proper cavity design.