EMISSION DYNAMICS OF IN0.2GA0.8AS GAAS-LAMBDA AND 2-LAMBDA MICROCAVITY LASERS/

We study the emission dynamics of two In0.2Ga0.8As/GaAs microcavity la sers after femtosecond optical excitation at 20 K. The pulse widths an d the peak delays of lambda and a 2 lambda cavity are compared. Pulses as short as 3.3 ps (9.5 ps) and peak delays as short as 8.2 ps (16.5 ps) are obtained with the 2 lambda cavity (lambda cavity). The pulse w idths and peak delays are well described by a model based on a rate eq uation analysis for carrier and photon densities; in particular, the b etter high speed characteristics of the 2 lambda cavity compared to th e lambda cavity are well reproduced. (C) 1996 American Institute of Ph ysics.