High Q vertical surface emitting photonic crystal surface-mode cavities with periodic perturbation

We introduce a periodical perturbation to realize photonic crystal vertical cavity surface emitting laser cavities based on surface modes (PCSM-VCSEL) and to enhance their quality factor. Different from the early reported direct periodical modulation to the cavity surface, a periodical perturbation under the surface can also result in the vertical emission due to the beaming effect. It is more important that this perturbation causes less energy diffraction loss or light output because the perturbation is imposed on not the center but the tail of the field of surface modes. Therefore, this modulation method greatly improves the quality factor of such PCSM-VCSEL cavities, which is favorable to their realization in practice. The numerical results demonstrate their characteristics and good performances in the application as light sources.     

蓝紫光氮化镓光子晶体面射型激光器

设计、制作了蓝紫光氮化镓光子晶体面射型激光器结构,并测量其光学性质,探讨了光子晶体的晶格常数、边界形状及晶格种类对激光器特性的影响。激光器结构采用有机金属化学气相沉积法配合电子束光刻及感应耦合等离子体干蚀刻等技术制作。由角度解析光致发光系统测得绕射图案、激光发射光谱及发散角等光学性质。同时,使用平面波展开法及多重散射法计算光子晶体的能带结构与阈值增益。由实验结果得出,可由改变光子晶体的晶格常数达到调变激光器操作模态的目的。此外,光子晶体的边界形状对激光器波长及半高宽并无显著的影响,但圆形边界的阈值激发能量密度比六角形边界低0.3 mJ/cm²。另一方面,将六角晶格、四角晶格与蜂巢晶格的晶格种类进行比较,蜂巢晶格具有较小的激发能量密度（1.6 mJ/cm²）及发散角（1.3°）,而四角晶格的激发能量密度（3.8 mJ/cm²）及发散角（2.2°）为三者之中最大。多重散射法求得的阈值增益与实验结果相吻合,可视为快速有效设计光子晶体激光器结构的工具。本文研究成果对今后发展高功率蓝紫光氮化镓光子晶体面射型激光器具有指导意义。     

Threshold gain analysis in GaN-based photonic crystal surface emitting lasers

We have analyzed threshold gains and lasing modes in GaN-based photonic crystal (PC) surface emitting lasers (PCSELs) by using the multiple scattering method (MSM) for triangular-lattice PC patterns. Moreover, GaN-based PCSELs with different boundary shapes have been fabricated and measured. The lasing mode at the Γ band edge of GaN-based PCSELs can be identified by using the angled resolved spectroscopy and matched well to the results calculated by MSM. Threshold conditions in the GaN-based PCSELs with different boundary shapes are obtained by optical pumping and agree well with simulation results.     

光子晶体垂直腔面发射激光器的电流分布研究

对氧化限制型外腔式光子晶体垂直腔面发射激光器注入到有源区的电流密度分布进行了分析研究.提出三维电流分布计算模型,研究了光子晶体结构对电流密度分布和器件串联电阻的影响.研究发现,光子晶体孔刻蚀深度越深,电流分布圆对称性越差,引起的串联电阻越大.不同光子晶体图案对电流分布的均匀性和圆对称性也有很大的影响.该模型对于研究、设计氧化限制型外腔式光子晶体垂直腔面发射激光器提供了一个有用的分析方法.     

High-Q photonic crystal surface-mode cavities on crystalline SOI structures

High-Q side-coupled surface-mode cavities in two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystals on crystalline silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structures are demonstrated. One of the surface-mode cavities has the measured system Q factor and intrinsic Q factor of 6200 and 13,400, respectively. The experimental results show that the value of system Q factor is ten times and the intrinsic Q factor six times higher than those of similar structures on amorphous SOI structures, respectively, due to the intrinsic material loss is much lower for crystalline silicon. The Q factors of cavities can be further improved by spin-on-glass overlayers, for increasing the structural symmetry. After the spin-on-glass process, the system Q factor and the intrinsic Q factor become nearly twice higher. Meanwhile, the drop wavelengths are largely red-shifted.     

Ultrafast photonic crystal lasers

We describe recent progress in photonic crystal nanocavity lasers with an emphasis on our recent results on ultrafast pulse generation. These lasers produce pulses on the picosecond scale, corresponding to only hundreds of optical cycles. We describe laser dynamics in optically pumped single cavities and in coupled cavity arrays, at low and room temperature. Such ultrafast, efficient, and compact lasers show great promise for applications in high‐speed communications, information processing, and on‐chip optical interconnects.     

Vertical cavity surface emitting laser transverse mode and polarization control by elliptical holes photonic crystal

The polarization of traditional photonic crystal (PC) vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) is uncontrollable, resulting in the bit error increasing easily. Elliptical hole photonic crystal can control the transverse mode and polarization of VCSEL efficiently. We analyze the far field divergence angle, and birefringence of elliptical hole PC VCSEL. When the ratio of minor axis to major axis b/a=0.7, the PC VCSEL can obtain single mode and polarization. According to the simulation results, we fabricate the device successfully. The output power is 1.7 mW, the far field divergence angle is less than 10°, and the side mode suppression ratio is over 30 dB. The output power in the Y direction is 20 times that in the X direction.     

Vertical cavity surface emitting laser transverse mode and polarization control by elliptical hole photonic crystal

The polarization of traditional photonic crystal(PC) vertical cavity surface emitting laser(VCSEL) is uncontrollable,resulting in the bit error increasing easily.Elliptical hole photonic crystal can control the transverse mode and polarization of VCSEL efficiently.We analyze the far field divergence angle,and birefringence of elliptical hole PC VCSEL.When the ratio of minor axis to major axis b/a = 0.7,the PC VCSEL can obtain single mode and polarization.According to the simulation results,we fabricate the device successfully.The output power is 1.7 mW,the far field divergence angle is less than 10°,and the side mode suppression ratio is over 30 dB.The output power in the Y direction is 20 times that in the X direction.     

Lasing mechanism in two-dimensional photonic crystal lasers

We conduct a comprehensive investigation of the lasing mechanism in a photonic crystal slab laser with a refractive index that is periodic in two dimensions. Experimental spectra of laser structures fabricated with organic gain media are presented. It is found that lasing frequencies can be explained in terms of Van Hove singularities in the density of modes. We also observe lasing spectra that cannot be obtained from structures with one-dimensional periodicity, such as traditional distributed feedback lasers. Lasing frequencies are computed using numerical techniques. Received: 7 April 1999 / Accepted: 12 April 1999 / Published online: 19 May 1999     

Self-tuned quantum dot gain in photonic crystal lasers

We demonstrate that very few (2-4) quantum dots as a gain medium are sufficient to realize a photonic-crystal laser based on a high-quality nanocavity. Photon correlation measurements show a transition from a thermal to a coherent light state proving that lasing action occurs at ultralow thresholds. Observation of lasing is unexpected since the cavity mode is in general not resonant with the discrete quantum dot states and emission at those frequencies is suppressed. In this situation, the quasicontinuous quantum dot states become crucial since they provide an energy-transfer channel into the lasing mode, effectively leading to a self-tuned resonance for the gain medium.     

Investigation of chaos synchronization in photonic crystal lasers

Chaotic dynamics and chaos synchronization in photonic crystal (PC) lasers with optical feedback are investigated numerically. The effect of various system parameters such as amplitude reflectivity of the external mirror “r”, external cavity length “L_e”, and injection current “I” on system dynamics is addressed in detail. Simulation results are presented using MATLAB to address system behavior. The parameters r, L_e, and I are varied over the ranges (0.05–0.25), (2.8–3.2 mm), and (1.1I_th–2I_th), respectively. The results indicate that very small parameter mismatches between the transmitter laser and receiver laser affect strongly complete chaos synchronization between them.     

Continuous‐wave vertically emitting photonic crystal terahertz laser

Compact semiconductor light sources with high performance continuous‐wave (CW) and single mode operation are highly demanded for many applications in the terahertz (THz) frequency range. Distributed feedback (DFB) and photonic crystal (PhC) quantum cascade (QC) lasers are amongst the leading candidates in this field. Absorbing boundary condition is a commonly used method to control the optical performance of a laser in double‐metal confinement. However, this approach increases the total loss in the device and results in a large threshold current density, limiting the CW maximum output power and operating temperature. In this letter, a robust surface emitting continuous‐wave terahertz QC laser is realized in a two‐dimensional PhC structure by a second order Bragg grating extractor that simultaneously provides the boundary condition necessary for mode selection. This results in a 3.12 THz single mode CW operation with a 3 mW output power and a maximum operation temperature (T_max) of 100 K. Also, a highly collimated far‐field pattern is demonstrated, which is an important step towards real world applications.     

Spatial modal control of two-dimensional photonic crystal Bragg lasers

We investigate the modal losses and field distributions of different order transverse modes supported by the photonic crystal Bragg structure using a transfer matrix method. We find that only the fundamental transverse mode has a single-lobed near field and far field and there exists a trade-off between ensuring lasing in the fundamental transverse mode and reducing the threshold. Employing these design principles, we experimentally demonstrate a large-area, edge-emitting, and single-mode semiconductor photonic crystal Bragg laser with a single-lobed, diffraction-limited far field under continuous wave condition.     

Electrically pumped edge-emitting photonic crystal lasers with angled facets

We demonstrate electrically pumped large-area edge-emitting InGaAsP/InP two-dimensional photonic crystal lasers with angled facets at room temperature. The laser uses a weak index perturbation surface photonic crystal structure to control optical modes in the wafer plane. Measurements of the laser spectra show that the modal selection is due to satisfying the Bragg resonance conditions in both the longitudinal and the transverse directions. The lasing wavelength is tuned lithographically by changing photonic crystal lattice constants. We demonstrate a fine lasing wavelength tuning sensitivity (change of lasing wavelength over change of lattice constant) of 0.08 through the transverse lattice constant tuning.     

光子晶体垂直腔面发射850nm波长激光器研究

文章报道了国内首次研制成功的光子晶体垂直腔面发射850nm波长激光器，实现了连续电注入激射．发现器件能否激射直接依赖于光子晶体结构参数，而激光器的阈值、输出功率、输出模式等与光子晶体的晶格常数、占空比、腔的大小等因素有关．     

Experimental study of phase-locking of two photonic crystal fiber lasers

Two photonic crystal fiber (PCF) lasers are phase-locked by using self-imaging resonator techniques. Obvious and steady interference strips are observed even without using spatial filter in high power operation, which demonstrates the advantages of pure single-mode PCF lasers in coherent beam combining. The maximum coherent output power of 95.8 W is obtained with coupling efficiency of 90.2%.     

Surface emitting lasers

In this paper we review the recent progress and basic technology of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (SEL). First, the concept of surface emitting lasers is introduced, and then device technologies will be presented. We will feature some important issues, such as multi-layer structures and 2-dimensional arrays. Lastly, the future prospects of SELs are discussed.     

Core temperature in super-Gaussian pumped air-clad photonic crystal fiber lasers compared with double-clad fiber lasers

In this paper we investigate the core temperature of air-clad photonic crystal fiber (PCF) lasers pumped by a super-Gaussian (SG) source of order four. The results are compared with conventional double-clad fiber (DCF) lasers pumped by the same super-Gaussian and by top-hat pump profiles.      

Highly integrated photonic crystal bandedge lasers monolithically grown on Si substrates

Monolithic integration of Ⅲ-Ⅴ lasers with small footprint, good coherence, and low power consumption based on a CMOS-compatible Si substrate have been known as an efficient route towards high-density optical interconnects in the photonic integrated circuits. However, the material dissimilarities between Si and Ⅲ-Ⅴ materials limit the performance of monolithic microlasers. Here, under the pumping condition of a continuous-wave 632.8 nm He–Ne gas laser at room temperature, we achieved an InAs/GaAs...     

Lasing action in two-dimensional organic photonic crystal lasers with hexagonal symmetry

We investigate fluorescence and lasing action from strongly modulated two-dimensional surface relief structures with hexagonal symmetry onto which thin films of optically active organic material have been deposited. As compared with second-order laser structures with square symmetry, these organic photonic crystal lasers exhibit unusual feedback mechanisms. As a result, we observe surface-emitting lasing action with a central beam normal to the surface and a hexagonal emission pattern of side-beams whose direction slightly deviates from the normal. A corresponding theoretical analysis allows us to determine the photonic bandstructure and the low-threshold laser modes in this system. These results agree very well with fluorescence data and confirm the hexagonal lasing pattern and the corresponding emission angles. PACS 42.55.Tv; 42.70.Jk; 42.70.Qs