Electron-beam-pumped semiconductor lasers

The operating principles, threshold characteristics, and physical factors imposing restrictions on the main operational parameters are reviewed for semiconductor lasers pumped by beams of accelerated electrons. The attention is focused on electrodynamics of the optical field and on the influence of the cavity configuration on the spectrum of the emitted modes. A brief account is given of the history of these lasers. The problems still not solved are discussed and potential ways of improving these lasers are considered.