Tunnel radiation in the luminescence spectra of GaN-based heterostructures

Tunnel effects in luminescence spectra and electrical properties of LEDs based on InGaN/GaN-heterostructures made by different technological groups were studied. The tunnel radiation in a spectral region of 1.9 - 2.7 eV predominates at low currents (J<0.2 mA). The position of the tunnel luminescence maximum orħħω max is approximately equal to the voltage U, orħħω max = eU. The low energy spectral band is described by the theory of tunnel radiative recombination. Tunnel recombination mechanisms in GaN-based heterostructures are caused by high electric fields in the active InGaN/GaN - MQW layers. The energy diagram of the structures is analyzed. The probability of tunnel radiation is higher due to piezoelectric fields in InGaN quantum wells. The tunnel radiation spectral band was not observed in the more effective LEDs with modulated doped MQWs. The spectra of GaN-based LEDs are compared with tunnel radiation spectra of GaAs-, InP- and GaSb- based LEDs. The equation: orħħω max = eU describes experimental data in various semiconductors in the range 0.5–2.7 eV.