Loss and Index Guiding in Single-Mode Proton-Implanted Holey Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers

Leisher, P.O.; Danner, A.J.; Raftery, J.J.; Siriani, D.; Choquette, Kent D.

Loss and Index Guiding in Single-Mode Proton-Implanted Holey Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers

Date

2006-10

Authors

Publisher

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Abstract

Wedge-shaped holes are fabricated in the top mirror of proton-implanted vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). A radially symmetric fill factor approach is used to calculate the resulting transverse index profile. To investigate both the index confinement provided by the etched pattern and its effect on optical loss, continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed experiments are performed. Under CW operation, we show proper wedge design leads to improved fundamental-mode output power, decreased threshold, and increased efficiency. We report a significant decrease in threshold under pulsed operation for the etched device compared to an unetched device, indicating a significant reduction in diffraction loss to the fundamental mode due to strong index guiding. Single-mode output is maintained over the entire operating range of the VCSEL due to increased loss for the higher order modes

Keywords

Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, Surface emitting lasers, Etching, Semiconductor laser arrays, Optical losses, Laser modes, Apertures, Optical refraction, Optical scattering, Optical sensors

Citation

P. O. Leisher, A. J. Danner, J. J. Raftery, D. Siriani and K. D. Choquette, "Loss and Index Guiding in Single-Mode Proton-Implanted Holey Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers," in IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, vol. 42, no. 10, pp. 1091-1096, Oct. 2006, doi: 10.1109/JQE.2006.882031.