Coherent vertical beaming using Bragg mirrors for high-efficiency GaN light-emitting diodes

Abstract

We propose a dielectric Bragg mirror that utilizes coherent coupling with multiple quantum wells (MQWs) to significantly enhance light extraction from GaN light-emitting diode (LED). Full vectorial electromagnetic simulation showed that, under constructive interference conditions, the Bragg mirror consisting of two dielectric (SiO2/TiO2) stacks and a silver layer led to >30% enhancement in light extraction, as compared to a single silver mirror. Such significant enhancement by a pre-designed Bragg/metal mirror was ascribed to the vertically oriented radiation pattern and reduced plasmonic metal loss. In addition, the gap distance between the MQWs and a Bragg mirror at which the constructive interference takes place could be controlled by modulating the thickness of the first low-refractive-index layer. Moreover, a two-dimensional periodic pattern was incorporated into an upper GaN layer with the designed Bragg mirror and it was shown that a lattice constant of similar to 800 nm was optimal for light extraction. We believe that tailoring the radiation profile of light emitters by coherent coupling with designed high-reflectivity mirrors will be a promising route to overcome the efficiency limit of current semiconductor LED devices. (C)2013 Optical Society of America