Increase in the efficiency of a tandem of semiconductor laser – optical amplifier based on self-organizing quantum dots

The rate equations are used to analyze the characteristics of a tandem consisting of a laser diode and a semiconductor optical amplifier made of a single heterostructure with quantum dots. The optimal value of the current distribution coefficient the amplifier and the laser, as well as the optimal resonator length that provides the highest output power of the tandem were determined. It is shown that the use of the tandem allows, at the same total consumed current, to significantly (more than 4 times for 1 A) increase the power emitted through the ground-state optical transition in comparison with that achievable with a laser diode solely being limited by the onset of lasing through an excited-state optical transition.