Interstripe coupling and current spreading in a subthreshold double heterostructure twin stripe laser

The twin stripe double heterojunction injection laser represents a new and potentially very important device, for which novel optical properties such as beam steering, high frequency pulse generation, and bistability have been predicted. Problems arise in connection with the determination of the optical distribution above threshold. The present investigation has the objective to provide some information regarding the terminal behavior of the device as well as good estimates of the current distributions as a function of the injected currents in each stripe up to threshold. Particular attention is given to the effects of electrode width and electrode spacing on the current density distribution and to the important effects of interstripe conductivity on the current density distribution at the junction. The current density distributions found provide a basis for more detailed modeling.