Abstract
In the spirit of reviewing various approaches to the modeling and simulation of optoelectronic devices, we discuss two specific examples, related respectively to Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers and to Quantum Cascade Lasers. In the former case, a tight-binding analysis is performed aimed at the optimization of the polarization independence of the device. Further, a rate-equation model is set up to describe the dynamics of gain recovery after optical pumping. A Monte Carlo simulation of a superlattice quantum cascade laser is then presented which provides an insight into the microscopic processes controlling the performance of this device.