Analysis of optically pumped equilateral triangular microlasers with three mode-selective trenches.

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Nanophotonics
• Semiconductor device physics

Background:

• Triangular resonators are promising for compact, high-performance optical sources.
• Existing designs require optimization for single-mode operation in diverse applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of trenches on electromagnetic modes in triangular semiconductor laser resonators.
• To analyze light coupling into single-mode waveguides and assess radiation losses.
• To determine the steady-state response of modified laser structures.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two-dimensional finite difference time-domain (2D-FDTD) methods for electromagnetic mode analysis.
• Simulated the effects of introducing three trenches into the triangular cavity.
• Investigated photonic crystal shielding to mitigate radiation losses.
• Solved rate equations to obtain the steady-state optical output.

Main Results:

• Introduction of trenches significantly reduced quality factors for most modes.
• One specific mode exhibited minimal degradation, enabling near single-mode operation.
• Photonic crystal shielding was explored to manage radiation losses effectively.
• Steady-state analysis provided insights into the device's operational characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Modified triangular resonators with trenches can achieve near single-mode operation.
• The trench design offers a pathway to enhance the performance of semiconductor laser devices.
• Further research can optimize trench geometry and shielding for specific applications.