Photonic crystal lasers and related functional devices

Summary form only given. Recently, we have reported novel lasers based on two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystals or 2D periodic structures. Due to the two-dimensionality of such devices, the Bragg diffraction that occurs is multi-directional. Such multi-directional Bragg diffraction can yield coupling mechanisms unattainable using traditional DFB lasers, leading to control of the lasing mode over a large 2D area, which may have various important applications such as high-power lasers or surface-emitting lasers with very narrow divergence angles. We created such a device with a 2D photonic crystal in which we integrated two wafers (A and B) using a wafer-fusion technique. Wafer A has an InGaAsP/InP multiple quantum well active layer (λ= 1.3 μm) grown on a p-type InP substrate. Wafer B features a square lattice structure on an n-type InP substrate. We have found that the polarization of the laser can be controlled by unit cell structure design.