Semiconductor laser

Semiconduction lasers: Basics and current research (SuSe)

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Johann Peter Reithmaier

Content of the lectures

The lectures consist of 4 SWh. (lectures and exercises). The lectures are suitable for students from 5 semester of "Nanostructure Science Course" (obligatory elective cource b/d, b/e, b/f) and "Physics Diploma" (elective cource S-Schein). Basic knowledge of Solid State Physics like "Introduction to the experimental physics IV" or "Applied semiconductor physics" are required.
The lectures present the fundamentals of laser physics based on semiconductor lasers and goes deeper into the current research of the laser device. The following topics will be discussed in the basic part of the lectures:

  • spontaneous and stimulated emission
  • spectral amplification
  • threshold conditions
  • Fabry-Perot resonator
  • layers and core of the waveguide
  • feedback and bragg grating
  • theory of coupled modes
  • transfer matrix theory
  • high frequency properties (modulation properties, resonance frequency, chirp and line thickness)

The application area of the semiconductor lasers in the last 10 years was immensely broadened. It leads to mutiplicity of new applications and application possibilities, which will be discussed during the lectures and in the special topics of the seminar presentations. Among other things the nano-structuring methods for material and component structuring will be heightened in the future. Among other the following will be discussed:

  • vertical emitting laser (VCSEL)
  • disc and ring lasers
  • microaser
  • quantum dot laser
  • UV-laser based on GaInN
  • quantum cascade laser
  • laser based on photonic crystals
  • single photon source


In the lectures will be discussed also basic principles of the devices, fabrications methods and possible applications.

Lecture and eximination dates

Lecture times SS 2024:

Monday, 9:00 - 11:00  room 1135

Thursday, 9:00 - 11:00  room 1135

The lecture will start from 18/04/2024 at 9:00 am.

Documents for the lecture can be found in the Moodle course Semiconductor Laser (access code will be announced in the 1st lecture).

Link to Moodle: https://moodle.uni-kassel.de/course/index.php?categoryid=292


Oral Exams: 

On Wednesday, 30. October 2024 starting from 9:30 am in room 2110 (INA building).

Length of the oral examination is 60 minutes for every student.
Please register for the exam in person or by e-mail at the secretary's office. Please do not forget to register in HISPOS.