Emission dynamics of In0.2Ga0.8As/GaAs λ and 2λ microcavity lasers

We study the emission dynamics of two In0.2Ga0.8As/GaAs microcavity lasers after femtosecond optical excitation at 20 K. The pulse widths and the peak delays of λ and a 2λ cavity are compared. Pulses as short as 3.3 ps (9.5 ps) and peak delays as short as 8.2 ps (16.5 ps) are obtained with the 2λ cavity (λ cavity). The pulse widths and peak delays are well described by a model based on a rate equation analysis for carrier and photon densities; in particular, the better high speed characteristics of the 2λ cavity compared to the λ cavity are well reproduced.