Abstract: A method for producing optical signals with improved efficiency, including the following steps: providing a layered semiconductor structure that includes a substrate, a semiconductor collector region of a first conductivity type, a semiconductor base region of a second conductivity type disposed on the collector region, and a semiconductor emitter region of the first semiconductor type disposed as a mesa over a portion of a surface of the base region; providing, in the base region, at least one region exhibiting quantum size effects; providing collector, base, and emitter electrodes, respectively coupled with the collector, base and emitter regions; providing a tunnel barrier layer over at least the exposed portion of the surface of the base region; and applying signals with respect to the collector, base, and emitter electrodes to produce optical signals from the base region.

Abstract: A method for making an optical tilted-charge device that is substantially matched to GaAs lattice constant, including the following steps: providing a layered semiconductor structure that includes: a GaAs substrate; a semiconductor collector region; a semiconductor base region that includes a doped GaAs second base sub-region, an InGaAsN quantum size region, and a doped GaAs first base sub-region; and a semiconductor emitter region; and providing collector, base, and emitter electrodes respectively coupled with the collector region, the base region, and the emitter region. Electrical signals, applied with respect to the collector, base, and emitter electrodes, produces light emission from the base region.