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Fabrication And Characterization Of Photonic Crystal Slow Light Waveguides And Cavities
Published on: November 30, 2012
Electrically-pumped, broad-area, single-mode photonic crystal lasers
Lin Zhu1, Philip Chak, Joyce K S Poon
1Department of Electrical Engineering and Department of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. linz@caltech.edu
Optics Express
|June 24, 2009
Summary
We demonstrate large-area, single-mode photonic crystal lasers for high-power applications. These effective index-guided lasers operate at 1550 nm without external mode control.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Semiconductor Lasers
- Nanophotonics
Background:
- Broad-area lasers are crucial for high-power applications and fiber coupling.
- Achieving single-mode operation in broad-area lasers typically requires external control methods.
- On-chip integration presents opportunities for broad-area lasers in microfluidics and MEMS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and demonstrate effective index-guided, large-area, edge-emitting photonic crystal lasers.
- To achieve stable, single-mode operation in broad-area lasers using photonic crystal design.
- To operate lasers at the optical telecommunication wavelength of 1550 nm.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of effective index-guided, large-area photonic crystal lasers.
- Utilizing pulsed electrical current injection for laser operation.
- Designing the photonic crystal lattice to control modal properties.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated single-mode operation in large-area edge-emitting lasers.
- Achieved a 1/e(2) modal width of 25 micrometers.
- Operated lasers at the 1550 nm telecommunication wavelength.
Conclusions:
- Photonic crystal design enables effective index-guiding for single-mode, large-area lasers.
- The demonstrated lasers offer a path towards high-power, fiber-coupled, and integrated photonic devices.
- Elimination of external control for single-mode operation simplifies device architecture.
