C. J. Kaiser

Two-dimensional coherent laser arrays using grating surface emission

The concepts, fabrication, and operating characteristics of monolithic two-dimensional, coherent AlGaAs laser arrays are presented. The arrays consist of 100 (10*10) active elements fabricated from a single-quantum-well graded-index separate-confinement heterostructure laser geometry. A surface relief grating is used for feedback and outcoupling. The elements of the array are index-guided ridge lasers with evanescent or Y coupling in the lateral direction and injection coupling longitudinally. The far field emanating from a 60- mu m*5-mm aperture, measures 0.01 degrees *1 degrees . These arrays emit more than 1 W peak power into a 2-AA wavelength interval. By adjusting the drive current to the electrically independent gain sections of these arrays, the angular position of the far-field beam can be steered. >

Coherent, monolithic two-dimensional (10×10) laser arrays using grating surface emission

Two‐dimensional, coherent AlGaAs laser arrays consisting of 100 (10×10) active elements have been fabricated using single quantum well laser structures. A surface relief grating is used both for feedback and outcoupling. The elements of the array are index‐guided ridge lasers. In one array design, the elements are coupled laterally by evanescent field overlap while in the second design, the coupling is by Y branches. Longitudinal coherence is achieved by injection coupling. The far field, emanating from a 60 μm by 5 mm aperture, measures 0.01°×1°. Both types of arrays emit more than 1 W peak power. The mode spectrum of the emitted power is contained in a ∼2–3 A wavelength interval at ∼1 W.

Electronic beam steering in monolithic grating‐surface‐emitting diode laser arrays

Electronic beam steering has been demonstrated in both one‐ and two‐dimensional injection‐coupled grating‐surface‐emitting diode laser arrays. By appropriately varying the drive current to the electrically independent gain sections of an injection‐coupled grating‐surface‐emitting laser array, the angular position of the far‐field output can be steered. Experimental results for two‐dimensional surface‐emitting arrays are presented, as well as a theoretical model which shows that beam steering is a general property of injection‐coupled surface‐emitting arrays.

High‐power seven‐element grating surface emitting diode laser array with 0.012° far‐field angle

A coherent seven‐element grating surface emitting diode laser array with a predominant single‐lobe far‐field pattern having an angular divergence of 0.012° has been demonstrated. The extent of the emitting aperture was 4 mm, and the beam divergence was within 10% of the diffraction limit. Under pulsed operation the array had a peak output power of over 400 mW and a differential quantum efficiency of 15%.

Efficient, high-power (>150 mW) grating surface emitting lasers

Surface emitting AlGaAs second‐order distributed Bragg reflector lasers using a superlattice graded‐index separate confinement heterostructure with a single quantum well have been fabricated. The total peak power is emitted coherently from both gratings into a 0.06° full width half‐power single lobe far field pattern. Peak powers are in excess of 150 mW. The external differential quantum efficiency is as high as 30%. Under severe current modulation conditions, the stable single longitudinal mode had 20–45 dB wavelength side mode rejection.

Efficient 30 mW grating surface-emitting lasers

A surface‐emitting AlGaAs second‐order distributed Bragg reflector laser using a graded index separate confinement heterostructure with a single quantum well has been fabricated. The surface emitted power is in excess of 30 mW with an external differential quantum efficiency of 20%. These values approach the performance of present commercially available edge‐emitting diode lasers. Under severe current modulation conditions, the stable single longitudinal mode had nearly 30 dB wavelength sidemode rejection, and a near diffraction limited 0.51° full width half‐power beam divergence of the single‐lobe far‐field pattern.

Dynamically stable 0° phase mode operation of a grating-surface-emitting diode-laser array

A coherent grating-surface-emitting diode-laser array has demonstrated dynamically stable operation in the 0° phase mode. The array was operated under pulsed conditions, had a peak power output of 44 mW and a large central lobe on axis in the far field, and exhibited single-mode spectral output with better than 18-dB side-mode rejection.

High-speed switching of monolithic arrays of grating-surface-emitting diode lasers

The electrooptic switching properties of injection-coupled coherent two-dimensional grating-surface-emitting (GSE) laser arrays with multiple gain sections and quantum-well active layers are discussed. Within such an array of injection-coupled GSE lasers, a single gain section can act as an intracavity saturable loss element that can modulate the output of the entire array. Experimental results demonstrate efficient subnanosecond switching of high-power GSE laser arrays by operating only one gain section as an intracavity loss modulator. >

Crossed-gratings for semiconductor lasers

Crossed gratings provide a functional effective period, shorter than the exposed grating periods. They can simultaneously provide feedback, outcoupling, and in-plane coupling of monolithic laser elements. Potential applications include OEIC architectures.

Coherent coupling of independent grating-surface-emitting diode laser arrays using an external prism

Pairs of grating surface‐emitting arrays, on a single wafer but free‐running, were externally coupled with a prism. The prism acted as an optical coupler between one distributed Bragg reflector in each array. Injection locking was demonstrated by observing a dramatic increase in the lateral coherence of the far field of the prism‐coupled arrays.