Anomalous temperature dependence of PL characteristics in ordered InGaAsP strained layer multi-quantum well structure

Clarification of anomalous photoluminescence (PL) characteristics for InGaAsP compressively strained layer multi-quantum well (SL-MQW) structures is studied to realize highly strained SL-MQW lasers with a large number of well layers. PL characteristics such as an increase in PL linewidth and a small temperature dependence of the PL peak wavelength are observed in the SL-MQW structures in which a structure of CuPt-type atomic ordering is observed. Elimination of the ordered structure as well as reduction of the PL linewidth have been confirmed with increasing growth temperature. Although formation of an interfacial undulation (lateral modulation) between SL-MQW layers is also suppressed by the increase in growth temperature, the formation has ultimately limited the maximum strain in SL-MQW. We suggest that the anomalous PL characteristics result from generation of ordering, dominant when the growth temperature is lower, as well as from interfacial undulation, dominant in highly strained SL-MQW when the growth temperature is increased.