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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
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Construction and Characterization of External Cavity Diode Lasers for Atomic Physics
Published on: April 24, 2014
Stripe-array diode-laser in an off-axis external cavity: theory and experiment
Andreas Jechow1, Mark Lichtner, Ralf Menzel
1University of Potsdam, Institute for Physics and Astronomy, Chair of Photonics, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476 Potsdam. ajechow@uni-potsdam.de
Optics Express
|December 10, 2009
Summary
Stripe-array diode lasers can achieve a higher-order supermode with twice the emitters per array period. This is achieved by doubling the feedback angle in off-axis filtered feedback systems.
Area of Science:
- Semiconductor lasers
- Optics
- Photonics
Background:
- Stripe-array diode lasers typically operate in an anti-phase supermode.
- This results in a double-lobe far-field pattern at specific angles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a 40-emitter gain-guided stripe-array laser coupled by off-axis filtered feedback.
- To theoretically predict and experimentally confirm a stable higher-order supermode.
Main Methods:
- Experimental investigation of a coupled stripe-array diode laser.
- Numerical modeling using time-domain traveling wave equations and carrier density equations.
- Incorporation of carrier diffusion and Fresnel integration for feedback modeling.
Main Results:
- A stable higher-order supermode was predicted and experimentally confirmed.
- This supermode features twice the number of emitters per array period.
- The supermode is achieved at a doubled feedback angle (2alpha).
Conclusions:
- Off-axis filtered feedback can stabilize higher-order supermodes in stripe-array diode lasers.
- This offers a method to increase the effective number of emitters per array period.
- The findings advance the understanding and design of high-power diode laser arrays.
