Gaussian patterned contacts for improved beam stability of 1.55-μm tapered lasers

Author

Walpole, J.N. ; Donnelly, J.P. ; Missaggia, L.J. ; Liau, Z.L. ; Chinn, S.R. ; Groves, S.H. ; Taylor, P.J. ; Wright, M.W.

Author_Institution

Lincoln Lab., MIT, Lexington, MA, USA

Volume

12

Issue

3

fYear

2000

fDate

3/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

257

Lastpage

259

Abstract

A Gaussian lateral current-injection profile is approximated by a quasi-random pattern of electrically conducting and insulating regions. This pattern is used for the p-type contact in a laser with a 2.1-mm-long tapered gain region and operating near 1.55-μm wavelength. Lasers with improved stable single lateral modes are obtained with Strehl ratios up to 0.85 for current up to 4.0 A and output power over 1.0 W. Power over 0.5 W can be coupled into a single-mode optical fiber with a cylindrical microlens attached to the output facet to remove the astigmatism of the laser.

Keywords

aberrations; laser accessories; laser beams; laser modes; laser stability; microlenses; optical fibre couplers; ridge waveguides; semiconductor lasers; waveguide lasers; 0.5 W; 1 W; 1.55 mum; 2.1 mm; 4 A; Gaussian lateral current-injection profile; Gaussian patterned contacts; Strehl ratios; astigmatism; beam stability; current; cylindrical microlens; electrically conducting regions; electrically insulating regions; output facet; output power; p-type contact; quasi-random pattern; single-mode optical fiber; stable single lateral modes; tapered gain region; tapered lasers; Contacts; Dielectrics and electrical insulation; Fiber lasers; Laser beams; Laser modes; Laser stability; Optical coupling; Optical fibers; Power generation; Power lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.826906

Filename

826906