Blue Laser Diodes And Leds Based On II-VI Semiconductor Heterostructures

We report the first observation of blue stimulated emission from a semiconductor laser structure. At 77K, under pulsed current injection, the laser devices output light in the blue spectral region at wavelengths as short as 475.4 nm (2.606 eV). This is the shortest wavelength ever generated by a semiconductor diode laser. LEDs have also been fabricated which emit bright blue light (dominant wavelength as short as 479 nm) at room temperature. The p-on-n heterostructure LEDs exhibit excellent electrical properties as well: Mesa devices produce 25 mA at 4.4 V at 300K. Green and blue/green LEDs have also been fabricated and studied. It is our intention to report accurate LED efficiencies over the temperature range 77-300K. Results of these experiments, and additional laser diode experiments which are in progress, will also be presented and discussed.