Analysis of TM-polarized DFB laser structures with metal surface gratings

Author

Finger, N. ; Schrenk, W. ; Gornik, E.

Author_Institution

Inst. of Solid State Electron., Wien Univ., Austria

Volume

36

Issue

7

fYear

2000

fDate

7/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

780

Lastpage

786

Abstract

An analysis of distributed feedback (DFB) laser structures with metallized surface grating structures in TM polarization is presented. The modal properties of these structures are described using coupled-mode theory where the coupling coefficients are derived from rigorously computed on-resonant Floquet-Bloch solutions of the waveguide grating problem. Based on this theory, first- and second-order DFB quantum cascade laser structures operating at a wavelength of 10 /spl mu/m are investigated numerically. We show that, utilizing a metal stripe grating structure, second-order laser structures are feasible showing efficient surface emission, whereas radiation into the substrate is strongly suppressed. The fraction of stimulated emission power being emitted via the surface can be as high as 17.5% whereas a low threshold gain of 20 cm/sup -1/ is maintained.

Keywords

coupled mode analysis; diffraction gratings; distributed feedback lasers; laser modes; laser theory; light polarisation; stimulated emission; surface emitting lasers; 10 micron; Floquet-Bloch analysis; TM polarization; coupled-mode theory; distributed feedback laser; metal surface grating; quantum cascade laser; stimulated emission; surface emission; threshold gain; waveguide grating structure; Distributed feedback devices; Gratings; Laser feedback; Laser theory; Metallization; Polarization; Quantum cascade lasers; Surface emitting lasers; Waveguide lasers; Waveguide theory;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.848348

Filename

848348