Achieving broad-area laser diodes with high output power and single-lobed far-field patterns in the lateral direction by loading a modal reflector

• Published in: IEEE journal of quantum electronics Vol. 30; no. 8; pp. 1683 - 1690
• Main Authors: Shigihara, K., Nagai, Y., Kakimoto, S., Ikeda, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-08-1994; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Diffraction; Diode lasers; ENGINEERING; Exact sciences and technology; FABRICATION; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); LASER CAVITIES; LASERS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; OPERATION; Optical elements, devices, and systems; Optical filters; Optical pumping; Optical refraction; Optical resonators; OPTICAL SYSTEMS; Optical variables control; Optics; Phased arrays; Physics; Power generation; Reflectors, beam splitters, and deflectors; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS; Semiconductor lasers; laser diodes; SOLID STATE LASERS 426002 > Engineering > Lasers & Masers > (1990-); Spatial coherence; USES; Aluminium arsenides; Oscillation modes; Gallium arsenides; Inorganic compounds; Ternary compounds; Organometallic compounds; Optics; Experimental study; Laser diodes; CVD; Fabrication; Reflectors; High power; Semiconductor lasers; Self alignment; Broad area; Gain guided laser
• ISSN: 0018-9197; 1558-1713
• DOI: 10.1109/3.301630

A modal reflector, which consists of a high-reflectivity region surrounded by low-reflectivity regions, is added to the front facet of two types of broad-area laser diodes (LD's) to control the lateral modes. One type of LD is the self-aligned laser with a bent active layer (SBA LD) that has a real index-guiding mechanism. The other is a planar-stripe LD that consists of a Zn-diffused region to confine the current flow and has a gain-guiding mechanism. For the SBA LD's with a modal reflector, stable single-lobed far-field patterns (FFP's) are obtained at up to 0.3 and 0.4 W output powers in continuous wave (CW) operation and pulsed operation, respectively. In addition, for planar-stripe LD's with a modal reflector, stable single-lobed FFP's are obtained at up to 0.4 W in CW operation. The lateral modes inside the cavity are analyzed by utilizing a slit model and FFP's are calculated. Good agreement is found between experimental and calculated FFP's for a large Fresnel number.< >