Near-infrared-electroluminescent light-emitting planar optical sources based on gallium nitride doped with rare earths

Strong near-infrared (NIR) electroluminescent emission at wavelengths used in telecommunication optical fibers was produced from rare-earth-doped GaN semiconductors in thin-metal-film/semiconductor/insulator/metal structures (see Figure). Strong near-infrared emission at wavelengths of 800 nm, 1082 nm, and 1550 nm has been demonstrated at room temperature with the trivalent thulium-, neodymium-, or erbium-doped GaN devices, respectively.