Advanced Electronic Technologies and Systems Based on Low-Dimensional Quantum Devices

The major thrust of this book is the realization of an all-optical computer. To that end it discusses optoelectronic devices and applications, transmission systems, integrated optoelectronic systems, and all-optical computers. The chapters on heterostructure light-emitting devices and quantum well-carrier transport optoelectronic devices present the recent advances in device physics, together with modern devices and their applications. The chapter on microcavity lasers discusses present and future developments in solid-state laser physics and technology, and puts into perspective the present state of research into, and the technology of, optoelectronic devices, within the context of their use in advanced systems. A significant part of the book deals with problems of propagation in quantum structures. The chapter on soliton-based switching, gating and transmission systems deals with the basics of controlling the propagation of photons in solids and the use of this control in devices. The chapters on optoelectronic processing using smart pixels and on all-optical computers are preceded by introductory material on the fundamentals of quantum structures for optoelectronic devices and systems, and on linear and non-linear absorption and reflection in quantum-well structures.