OPTICAL GAIN FOR WURTZITE GAN WITH ANISOTROPIC STRAIN IN C-PLANE

We calculated band structures of (<1(1)over bar 00>)-oriented GaN with various strains. We found that introducing anisotropic strain in the c plane separates heavy- and light-hole bands. We also found that a te nsile strain in the (<1(1)over bar 00>) plane makes the light-hole ban d topmost. These two effects result in a reduction in the density of s tates at the valence-band edge. In this way we can significantly reduc e the transparent carrier density to generate gain. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.