Analysis of anticipated performance of 650-nm GaInP/AlGaInP quantum-well GaAs-based VCSELs at elevated temperatures

The possibility of application of the 650-nm oxide-confined GaInP/AlGaInP quantum-well vertical-cavity surface-emitting diode lasers (VCSELs) at elevated temperatures as sources of the carrier 650-nm wave in the fibre optical communication using POFs has been investigated with the aid of the comprehensive self-consistent model. An increase in the VCSEL threshold current at higher temperatures has been found to be mostly associated with both the carrier leakage from the valley of the Ga_0.43In_0.57P quantum-well material to the X-valley of the (Al_0.67Ga_0.33)_0.52In_0.48P barriers and the band-to-band absorption within the Ga_0.52In_0.48P layer of the band-gap comparable with the energy of emitted radiation. Nevertheless, the AlGaInP VCSELs exhibit encouraging thermal behaviour with the characteristic temperature T₀ equal to as much as 134 K for the active-region temperatures up to 357 K. For the 5-μm devices, the maximal achievable output has been determined to decrease from a quite high value of 1.0 mW for 293 K to 0.6 mW for 320 K and to still high 0.33 mW for 340 K. However, an efficient operation of the above VCSEL at elevated temperatures requires still some structure modifications leading to a reduction of both the above effects, the electron leakage from the valley and the band-to-band absorption within GaInP layers.     

Current spreading modification to enhance single-fundamental-mode VCSEL operation at higher temperatures

Continuous-wave (CW) performance of modern oxide-confined (OC) vertical-cavity surface-emitting diode lasers (VCSELs) at room and elevated temperatures is investigated with the aid of the comprehensive fully self-consistent optical-electrical-thermal-gain model. A standard OC GaInNAs/GaAs double-quantum-well VCSEL emitting the 1.3-μm radiation is used as a typical modern VCSEL structure. The oxide aperture is placed at the anti-node position of an optical standing wave within a VCSEL cavity. The desired single-fundamental-mode (SFM) operation has been found to be expected only in VCSELs equipped with relatively small active regions of diameters equal or smaller than 10 μm. Therefore a proton implantation used as an radial additional confinement of the current spreading from the upper annular contact towards the centrally located active region is proposed and its impact on the VCSEL performance is investigated. The above structure modification has been found to enable a radical improvement in the VCSEL performance. In particular, in this case, the SFM VCSEL operation is possible even in VCSELs with quite large active regions and for much wider ambient-temperature range than in the standard OC VCSELs.     

Transverse-mode selectivity in possible nitride vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Excitation of various transverse modes in possible nitride vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is investigated and compared using the effective frequency optical model. In the comparative analysis of laser mode selectivity, two distinctly different configurations of possible nitride VCSELs are considered: the traditional VCSEL design with both (n-side and p-side) ring contacts as well as the uniform-current-injection (UCI) VCSEL design. Our simulation reveals that, during the continuous-wave device operation at room temperature, a multi-mode operation dominated by higher-order transverse modes is typical for traditional nitride VCSEL configurations whereas a desirable single-mode (based on the fundamental LP₀₁ mode) operation turns out to be characteristic for the wide current range in UCI ones. The above different threshold device behaviours are an immediate consequence of essentially different current-spreading phenomena in both VCSEL designs, resulting in completely different not only gain profiles but also temperature distributions within the laser active regions of both VCSELs. Seemingly similar behaviour has been also reported in arsenide VCSELs but it is expected to be much more severe in the case of nitride ones as a result of much higher both electrical resistivities of p-type nitrides and their temperature derivatives of refractive indices.     

Structure optimisation of modern GaAs-based InGaAs/GaAs quantum-dot VCSELs for optical fibre communication

Room-temperature (RT) continuous-wave (CW) performance of modern 1300-nm oxide-confined In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum-dot (QD) vertical-cavity surface-emitting diode lasers (VCSELs) taking advantage of many QD sheets is investigated using our comprehensive self-consistent simulation model to suggest their optimal design. Obviously, quantum dots should be as uniform as possible and as dense as possible to ensure high enough optical gain. Besides, our simulation reveals that efficient and uniform current injection into VCSEL active regions necessary to enhance excitation of the desired fundamental LP₀₁ mode is accomplished in the VCSEL configuration with the broad-area bottom contact and the ring upper one as well as with the oxide aperture localized within the first period of the upper p-type DBR. The doping of the DBR mirrors is chosen as a compromise between their high enough electrical conductivity and low enough free-carrier absorption. The oxide aperture is additionally introducing the radial optical waveguiding. Moreover, our analysis has been concluded that VCSEL active regions should be composed of at least 9 QD sheets to acquire efficient RT CW operation. Furthermore, rather longer optical cavities are recommended in this case because localization of QD sheets should be adjusted to the anti-node positions of the optical cavity standing wave.     

Designing strategy to enhance mode selectivity of higher-output oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Performance of modern oxide-confined (OC) vertical-cavity surface-emitting diode lasers (VCSEL s) is more sensitive to the construction details than in the case of other VCSEL s. In particular, a stable single-fundamental-mode operation is difficult to be achieved in these VCSEL s especially in higher-output large-size continuous-wave (cw) operating devices at higher temperatures. In the present paper, an operation of OC VCSEL s has been investigated with the aid of the comprehensive fully self-consistent model using the (GaIn)(NAs)/GaAs quantum-well VCSEL with two oxide apertures as a typical example. A new approach is proposed to enhance cw RT single-fundamental-mode low-threshold operation in higher-output OC VCSEL s. One of their oxide apertures should be shifted to the node position of the resonator standing wave where it is working as the electrical aperture only. Then diameters of both apertures may be changed independently giving an additional degree of freedom for VCSEL designing, which enables their optimisation. While the larger-diameter optical aperture placed in the anti-node position creates an efficient radial waveguiding effect, the smaller-diameter electrical aperture enhances a more uniform current injection into the VCSEL active region. Due to combining influence of both the apertures, the single-fundamental-mode operation is predicted in a large device with the 10-m-diameter active region even for 80 K active-region temperature increase over RT of the ambient. An impact of intentional detuning at room-temperature (RT) of VCSEL active-region gain spectrum towards shorter wavelengths with respect to the resonator mode improves mode selectivity is also analysed. PACS  42.55.Px; 02.60.Cb; 85.60.Bt     

Thermal properties and wavelength analysis of telecom oriented photonic-crystal VCSELs

Results of the self-consistent comprehensive analysis of a room-temperature operation of InP-based 1300-nm AlInGaAs photonic-crystal (PhC) VCSELs are presented. In particular, an influence of PhC parameters on thermal effects within VCSEL volume and its emission wavelength are analysed. The PhC has been found to introduce a number of opposite effects including a possible light leakage through PhC holes. From one side, PhC holes make more difficult heat-flux extraction from VCSEL volume leading to higher temperature increases within it. But, from the other side, a properly manufactured PhC creates an efficient radial confinement mechanism for VCSEL radiation field. It enhances an interaction between the field and the active-region carriers leading to a decrease in both the VCSEL lasing threshold and temperature increases. Seemingly both effects may similarly affect VCSEL operation, but our analysis revealed, that thermal properties of the PhC VCSEL are mainly dependent on an efficient confinement of its radiation field within the active region impeding a mode leakage through PhC holes, whereas an importance of deterioration of heat-flux extraction from VCSEL volume is much less essential. The wavelength shift induced by a change of PhC parameters has been found not to exceed 4×10⁻³ μm.     

光反馈诱发长波长垂直腔面发射激光器低功耗偏振开关

基于扩展的自旋反转模型,对光反馈诱发下长波长垂直腔面发射激光器中的低功耗偏振开关进行了理论研究.研究表明:长波长垂直腔面发射激光器在自由运行下未能获得的偏振开关现象,可以通过引入中等强度的偏振旋转光反馈来实现.对比强弱两种不同的线性色散效应,发现了一些有趣的现象:弱线性色散条件下更易于在低注入电流下获得偏振开关,并且产生偏振开关所需的反馈强度具有更大的调控范围;强色散效应中未能始终获得偏振开关,会出现两模共存区,并且偏振开关出现的注入电流值较高.同时,观察到的偏振模跳变和多偏振开关现象类似于短波长垂直腔面发射激光器,因而证实这两类激光器在偏振开关的本质规律上是相似的.此外,还对长波长垂直腔面发射激光器不易在低注入电流下获得偏振开关的原因进行了分析,并给出了合理的解释.     

Comparative analysis of lasing performance of oxide-confined and proton-implanted vertical-cavity surface-emitting diode lasers

The comprehensive optical-electrical-thermal-recombination self-consistent VCSEL model is used to compare the performance of oxide-confined (OC) and proton-implanted (PI) VCSELs and to optimise their structures. Generally index-guided (IG) OC VCSELs demonstrate lower lasing thresholds whereas both gain-guided (GG) OC and PI ones manifest much better mode selectivity. Therefore, their either low-threshold IG or mode-selective GG versions may be intentionally used for different VCSEL applications. Lasing thresholds of OC IG VCSELs have been found to be very sensitive to the exact localisation of their thin oxide apertures, which should be shifted as close as possible towards the anti-node position. PI VCSELs, on the other hand, are simpler and cheaper in their manufacturing than OC ones. Although lower threshold currents are manifested by PI VCSELs with very thick implanted regions, lower threshold powers are achieved in these devices with much thicker upper unaffected layer used for the radial current flow from the ring contact towards the laser axis. Paradoxically poor thermal properties of PI VCSELs enable lower lasing thresholds of slightly detuned devices. To conclude, cheaper and mode-selective PI VCSELs may be used instead of OC ones in many of their applications provided ambient temperatures and laser outputs are not too high.     

Higher order mode propagation in an optical nanofiber

The propagation of higher modes, such as the LP₁₁ mode, in optical nanofibers using the exponentially tapered optical fiber as a basic model is investigated. In order to preserve the LP₁₁ mode in the downtaper as far as the nanofiber waist, the effect of varying the cladding-core radius ratio on the LP₁₁ adiabatic criterion is modeled. A Laguerre-Gaussian beam is created in free space using a spatial light modulator (SLM) and coupled to a few-mode fiber. This device allows convenient switching between the fundamental and LP₁₁ fiber modes. By selecting a few-mode fiber with a relatively low cladding-core ratio, the propagation of the LP₁₁ mode down to a submicron waist has been maintained. Furthermore, by observing the transmission profile during tapering, it is possible to decisively terminate the pulling process in order to eliminate the two degenerate HE₂₁ modes of the LP₁₁ mode. As a result, a nanofiber can be fabricated through which only the TE₀₁ and TM₀₁ components of the LP₁₁ mode propagate. Such a nanofiber has promising applications in the area of mode interference for controlled particle trapping sites.     

Current spreading and series resistance of proton-implanted vertical-cavity top-surface-emitting lasers

In this paper, the current flow through the whole volume of the proton-implanted Vertical-Cavity top-Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) is analysed in detail. A simple approximate analytical relation was derived for a radial distribution of the current density entering active regions of those lasers. This distribution is nearly uniform in the case of VCSELs with a very small active region, but is becoming more and more non-uniform with an increase in its size. In VCSELs with very large active regions, current is flowing practically only within a narrow annular area close to the active-region perimeter. The VCSEL series electrical resistance is determined as a function of its active-region radius.     

Structure Optimisation of a Possible 1.5-μm GaAs-based Vertical-cavity Surface-emitting Laser Diode with the GaInNAsSb/GaNAs Quantum-well Active Region

Structure optimisation of the GaAs-based GaInNAsSb/GaNAs quantum-well (QW) vertical-cavity surface-emitting diode lasers (VCSELs) has been carried out using the comprehensive three-dimensional self-consistent physical model of their room-temperature (RT) continuous-wave (CW) threshold operation. The model has been applied to investigate a possibility to use these devices as carrier-wave lasing sources in the third-generation optical-fibre communication. In this simulation, all physical (optical, electrical, thermal and gain) phenomena crucial for a laser operation including all important interactions between them are taken into consideration. As expected, the 1.5λ-cavity VCSEL has been found to demonstrate the lowest RT CW threshold. However, for many VCSEL applications, the analogous VCSEL equipped with a longer 3λ-cavity should be recommended because it exhibits only slightly higher threshold but manifest much better mode selectivity – the desired single-fundamental-mode operation has been preserved in these devices up to at least 380 K. The Auger recombination has been found to be decidedly the main reason of the threshold current increase at higher temperatures. A proper initial red detuning of the resonator wavelength with respect to the gain spectrum may drastically decrease CW lasing thresholds, especially at higher temperatures.     

Cascade nitride VCSEL designs with tunnel junctions

The performance of various possible designs of 400-nm nitride vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) has been analyzed with the aid of an advanced three-dimensional (3D) thermal-electrical-optical-gain self-consistent threshold simulation. It has been demonstrated that it is practically impossible to reach fundamental-mode operation in nitride VCSELs of the traditional design with two ring contacts. To enhance this desired operation, the uniformity of current injection into VCSEL active regions should be dramatically improved. Therefore, we have focused our research on designs with tunnel junctions and/or a semitransparent contact. In particular, it has been proved that a design with two cascading active regions, two tunnel junctions and a semitransparent contact may offer the most promising room-temperature performance characteristics for both pulse and continuous-wave operations. In particular, this design offers high mode selectivity with a distinct fundamental transverse mode domination. The simulations also reveal that the thickness and localization of the semitransparent contact, as well as the localization of active regions and tunnel junctions, are crucial for successful construction design. PACS 42.55.Px; 85.30.De; 85.60.Jb     

1550 nm垂直腔面发射激光器的特征参量随温度的变化

在采用自旋反转模型分析垂直腔面发射激光器（VCSELs）动力学行为的过程中,为了正确预测VCSELs的动力学行为,需要准确给出自旋反转模型中光场衰减速率k、总反转载流子衰减速率γ_N、线性二向色性系数γ_a、线性双折射系数γ_p、自旋反转速率γ_s和线宽增强因子α这6个特征参量.本文对1550 nm VCSELs在自由运行和平行光注入下的输出特性进行实验分析,获取了这6个特征参量的值,并着重研究了当激光器温度在10.00–30.00 ℃范围内变化时,这6个特征参量呈现的变化趋势.研究结果表明,随着温度的逐渐升高,γ_p整体呈现逐渐增加的趋势,γ_a,γ_s,γ_N和k呈现复杂的变化趋势,而α则呈现逐渐减小的趋势.     

Polarization-bistable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers: application for optical bit memory

We summarize recent results on polarization-bistable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and their application to optical buffer memory. All-optical flip-flop operation with very low switching energies and high repetition rates is achieved. An optical buffer memory consisting of a two-dimensional array of polarization-bistable VCSELs, in which the bit state of the optical signal, “0” or “1”, is stored as a lasing linear polarization state of 0 or 90°. Input data stored as the polarization states of the first VCSEL are transferred to the polarization states of the second VCSEL. In our experiments with 980 nm polarization-bistable VCSELs, 10 Gbit/s optical buffering, 2-bit optical buffering, and a shift register function have been successfully demonstrated.     

吸收对垂直腔面发射激光器光学特性的影响

采用光学传输矩阵方法，详细分析了反射镜以及键合界面的吸收对垂直腔面发射激光器光学特性的影响. 结果表明，反射镜以及键合界面的吸收对反射镜和垂直腔面发射激光器的反射率和势透射率有较大影响，而对反射镜中心波长处的反射相移以及垂直腔面发射激光器模式的反射相移和模式位置影响很小. 随着反射镜以及键合界面的吸收增大，反射镜中心波长处的反射率逐渐减小，垂直腔面发射激光器的模式反射率变化则是先急剧减小，达到一个极小值，然后再逐渐增大，而反射镜中心波长处以及垂直腔面发射激光器模式处的势透射率则都是迅速降低的. 此外，将有吸收的键合界面离有源区的距离远一些，有利于提高垂直腔面发射激光器模式处的光输出效率.     

厚度偏差对VCSEL的反射谱和反射相移的影响

采用光学传输矩阵方法分析了厚度偏差对VCSEL的反射谱和反射相移产生的影响。结果表明,反射镜和VCSEL中各层厚度的偏大,将使反射镜的中心波长以及VCSEL的模式波长向长波方向移动,而反射镜和VCSEL中各层厚度的偏小,将使反射镜的中心波长以及VCSEL的模式波长向短波方向移动。将键合界面离有源区稍微远一些,有利于减小其厚度偏差对VCSEL的模式波长的影响。     

Investigation of intermodal interference of LP01 and LP11 modes in the liquid-core optical fiber for temperature measurements

The intermodal interference of the LP₀₁ and LP₁₁ modes and determination of the equalization wavelength in the liquid-core optical fiber is presented. Theoretically was described the weakly guiding optical fiber with the constant core radius, where equalization wavelength is a function of the refractive indices of core and cladding. The dependence of equalization wavelength on refractive indices is employed for measurement of temperature. Temperature sensitivity using intermodal interference of modes LP₀₁ and LP₁₁ was documented in the liquid-core optical fiber consisted of fused silica as cladding and medicinal oil as a core. In the investigated temperature range the intermodal interference allows the temperature measurement with resolution of about 0.02 °C.     

Temperature and injection current dependent electroluminescence study of GaInP/AlGaInP quantum well laser diode grown using tertiarybutylarsine and tertiarybutylphosphine

GaInP/AlGaInP triple quantum well (TQW) lasers, grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) using tertiarybutylarsine (TBAs) and tertiarybutylphosphine (TBP), were fabricated with a pulsed anodic oxidation (PAO) process. The devices worked at room temperature (RT) with the lowest threshold current density (J_th) of 1.5 kA/cm² ever reported for GaInP/AlGaInP lasers grown using TBAs and TBP. Temperature dependent (35–250 K) electroluminescence (EL) study of the GaInP/AlGaInP laser diode showed almost the same luminescence quenching behavior at a high temperature region (120–250 K), independent of the injection current (100–150 mA). A model involving a nonradiative recombination mechanism was presented to interpret the EL quenching behavior over the experimental temperature range. The nonradiative recombination centers in the Al-containing barrier or cladding layer are believed to contribute to the loss of carriers via nonradiative recombination. PACS 78.60.Fi; 71.20.Nr; 78.67.De; 81.15.Gh; 42.55.Px     

Improved thermal property of strained InGaAlAs/AlGaAs quantum wells for 808-nm vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

The 808-nm vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) with strained In_0.13Ga_0.75Al_0.12As/Al_0.3Ga_0.7As quantum wells is designed and fabricated. Compared with the VCSELs with Al_0.05Ga_0.95As/Al_0.3Ga_0.7As quantum wells, the VCSEL with strained In_0.13Ga_0.75Al_0.12As/Al_0.3Ga_0.7As quantum wells is demonstrated to possess higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) and better temperature stability. The maximum PCE of 43.8% for 10-μm VCSEL is achieved at an ambient temperature of 30 ℃. The size-dependent thermal characteristics are also analyzed by characterizing the spectral power and output power. It demonstrates that small oxide-aperture VCSELs are advantageous for temperature-stable performance.     

基于单向注入垂直腔面发射激光器系统的密钥分发

随机源对于信息理论安全的密钥分发至关重要,本文提出了一种基于单向注入垂直腔面发射激光器系统的密钥分发方案.首先基于单向注入的方式产生无时延特征的激光混沌信号,并通过单向注入驱动两个从激光器产生带宽增强的混沌同步信号.然后经过采样、量化以及异或等后处理,生成密钥流.数值仿真结果表明,在单阈值情况下,合法用户之间的误比特率低至1%左右,合法用户与窃听者之间的误比特率都高于10%;在双阈值情况下,误比特率可以低至10^-6.最后,对生成的密钥流进行了NIST随机性测试.该方案有效地增强了密钥分发的安全性.