Strain dependence of lasing mechanisms in ZnO epilayers

The lasing characteristics of highly disordered ZnO thin films deposited on SiO2/Si substrates with and without a MgO buffer layer have been investigated. We observed that the emission spectra of the ZnO epilayers with and without a MgO buffer are associated with the radiative recombination of free-exciton (similar to 380 nm) and electron-hole plasma (similar to 395 nm), respectively. The difference in the lasing wavelength is due to the induced compressive (tensile) strain along the c axis of the ZnO epilayers as a result of the presence (absence) of the MgO buffer layer. It is demonstrated that the strain-induced variation of Mott density inside the ZnO epilayers is responsible for the observed lasing characteristics.