A six-junction GaAs laser power converter with different sizes of active aperture

Abstract:

We investigate a novel GaAs-based laser power converters (LPCs) grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), which uses a single monolithic structure with six junctions connected by tunnel junctions to obtain a high output voltage. The LPCs with diameters of active aperture of 2 mm and 4 mm were fabricated and tested. The test results show that under an 808 nm laser, two LPCs both show an open circuit voltage of above 6.5 V. A maximum power conversion efficiency of 50.2% is obtained by 2 mm sample with laser power of 0.256 W, and an output electric power of 1.9 W with laser power of 4.85 W is obtained by 4 mm sample. The performances of the LPCs are deteriorated under illumination of high flux, and the 4 mm sample shows a higher laser power tolerance.