Available output of two-dimensional surface-emitting laser arrays

The efficient performance of two-dimensional surface-emitting laser arrays is analysed with the aid of a comprehensive fully self-consistent three-dimensional thermal–electrical model. Maximal available output of the closely packed arrays is considered as a function of their spacing and the emitter size. The superior thermal behaviour of arrays composed of small-size emitters is found to be questionable. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Optimum holographic optical element lens recorded by visible laser beams for an infrared two-dimensional vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser array

We have designed an optimum holographic optical element (HOE) lens recorded by visible laser beams for an infrared two-dimensional vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) array. The hologram computer-aided design tool that we have developed is used for the optimum design. The optimum HOE has both high light efficiency and a small amount of aberration. An Nd:YAG laser operated at 532 nm and an 8 x 8 VCSEL array operated at 850 nm are used for HOE recording and reconstruction, respectively. The designed lens is experimentally demonstrated, and the experimental results of the lens almost agree with the numerical results.     

Light flowers from coherent vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays

Emission of symmetric flower-shaped light patterns from coherently locked hexagonal vertical-cavity semiconductor laser arrays is reported. The flower patterns preserve their shape while propagating in free space. The emission of these unique light distributions is explained as being due to the combined effects of thermal lensing and the loss patterns employed for array definition. A theoretical model for strongly coupled arrays matches the results.     

Single-exposure two-dimensional superresolution in digital holography using a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser source array

We present a new implementation capable of producing two-dimensional (2D) superresolution (SR) imaging in a single exposure by aperture synthesis in digital lensless Fourier holography when using angular multiplexing provided by a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser source array. The system performs the recording in a single CCD snapshot of a multiplexed hologram coming from the incoherent addition of multiple subholograms, where each contains information about a different 2D spatial frequency band of the object's spectrum. Thus, a set of nonoverlapping bandpass images of the input object can be recovered by Fourier transformation (FT) of the multiplexed hologram. The SR is obtained by coherent addition of the information contained in each bandpass image while generating an enlarged synthetic aperture. Experimental results demonstrate improvement in resolution and image quality.     

Frequency locking of supermodes and stability of the out-of-phase-locked state in one-dimensional and two-dimensional arrays of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

In large arrays with equally pumped lasers the out-of-phase-locked state is a combination of several supermodes of the array that are locked to a common frequency. The far-field pattern is four lobed because the out-of-phase supermode is largely dominant. An approximated analytical expression for the locking threshold is found, and saturable dispersion is indicated as the physical mechanism that selects the out-of-phase-locked state.     

Stable single-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser with a photoresistive aperture

It is numerically demonstrated that on-axis current channeling through the use of a photoactive layer or layers in vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser cavities counteracts hole burning and allows single-mode operation at high currents. The photoactive layers act as a variable-resistivity screen whose radial aperture is controlled by the light itself. Absorption of a small fraction of the light intensity suffices for significant on-axis current peaking with minimum efficiency loss and optical mode distortion.     

Intracavity frequency doubling of a diode-pumped external-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor laser

We present a compact, robust, solid-state blue-light (490-nm) source capable of greater than 5 mW of output in a TEM(00) mode. This device is an optically pumped, vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser with an intracavity frequency-doubling crystal.     

Generation of Hermite-Gaussian modes and vortex arrays based on two-dimensional gain distribution controlled microchip laser

We have demonstrated high-order Hermite-Gaussian (HG) mode generation based on 2D gain distribution control edge-pumped, composite all-ceramic Yb:YAG/YAG microchip lasers using a V-type cavity. Several hundred milliwatts to several watts HG(mn) modes are achieved. We also generated different kinds of vortex arrays directly from the oscillator with the same power level. In addition, a more than 7 W doughnut-shape mode can be generated in the same cavity.     

Invited Paper: Design and modeling of a transistor vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

A multiple quantum well (MQW) transistor vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (T-VCSEL) is designed and numerically modeled. The important physical models and parameters are discussed and validated by modeling a conventional VCSEL and comparing the results with the experiment. The quantum capture/escape process is simulated using the quantum-trap model and shows a significant effect on the electrical output of the T-VCSEL. The parameters extracted from the numerical simulation are imported into the analytic modeling to predict the frequency response and simulate the large-signal modulation up to 40 Gbps.     

Fabrication of two-dimensional colloidal arrays

We report the effective fabrication of two-dimensional (2D) arrays of submicron colloidal particles. These colloidal arrays are produced in thin layers of monodisperse colloid suspensions on flat surfaces of solids such as clean glass or cleaved mica. The process of colloid assembling includes two steps, nucleation and growth, similar to those found in crystallization in solution but each of the steps in detail progresses with different mechanisms. The nucleation process is initiated by a special kind of capillary force acting parallel to the surface. The growth is guided by a laminar flow of water to the crystals, which is driven by water evaporation from 2D arrays. What is distinguishable in the 2D assembling is its active nature governed by the forces and flows, making a contrast to the diffusive mechanism in ordinary crystallization. With this two-step mechanism, a domain of hexagonally packed colloidal array can grow with time. A large and uniform film of particle monolayer is, thus, formed in a short period, from several seconds up to several minutes depending on the conditions controlled.     

Nonlinear spectroscopy with a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL)

We have evaluated the suitability of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diode (VCSEL) for spectroscopic applications. Despite its low output power it is possible to observe narrow resonances in a saturated absorption spectroscopy experiment on the cesium D ₂ transition at 852 nm, limited in width by the laser linewidth of several tens of MHz. High modulation efficiency of the VCSEL allows us to create modulation sidebands at 9.2 GHz frequency via direct modulation of the laser injection current. Using the carrier and either one of the sidebands coherent population trapping (CPT) resonances in a buffered cesium vapor can be prepared with linewidths below 130 Hz. With this very compact setup we have studied the dependence of CPT resonance position and linewidth as a function of optical detuning and find evidence of the influence of the excited state hyperfine structure. Received: 30 April 1999 / Revised version: 25 June 1999 / Published online: 30 November 1999     

Propagation of spatially partially coherent emission from a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

Recently we observed a strong reduction of spatial coherence of the emission of large-aperture vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers when they are driven by microsecond electrical pulses [Opt. Express 13, 9337 (2005)]. We study the influence of this partial spatial coherence on the propagation characteristics. The spatial decoherence manifests itself in the formation of a Gaussian far-field intensity distribution. We measure the transverse pulse profile from near to far field and see that the shape-invariant far-field regime starts after 140 microm in the pulsed regime as opposed to several centimeters in continuous wave operation. This value matches quantitatively calculations made with a novel partially coherent propagation model without any free fitting parameters.     

Design of a monolithic piezoelectrically actuated microelectromechanical tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

We report the design of a monolithic piezoelectrically actuated microelectromechanical tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). The main advantages of piezoelectric actuation compared with conventional capacitive techniques are improved wavelength control, reduced external and tilt losses, and lower power supply voltages. The details of the piezoelectric actuation scheme for a 980-nm VCSEL with a variable air gap are described. A tuning range of approximately 35 nm can theoretically be achieved with a 3-V power supply (2 x reduction from that of electrostatic actuation) by use of a 250-microm-long cantilever beam. The proposed actuation mechanism is insensitive to the pull-in phenomenon, therefore improving wavelength control and reducing threshold current. Drastic improvements in power efficiency make it ideal for low-power applications such as all-optical communication, chip-scale atomic clocks, and biological studies.     

Synchronization of polarization mode of two unidirectionally coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser and its application in communication

We theoretically investigate the synchronization performance of polarization mode of two unidirectionally coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and propose an encryption scheme, where the phase of the polarization states of the master laser are modulated. It is demonstrated that high synchronization can be achieved between corresponding polarization components of the master laser and the slave laser. Moreover, two distinct synchronization regimes exist, complete synchronization and injection locking. The transmitted digital information is successfully recovered at each polarization branch of the slaver laser. The results open an opportunity for multichannel chaotic communication by utilizing different polarization components in single-mode or multi-transverse-mode VCSELs.     

Spatial distribution of the intensity noise of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor laser

We studied anticorrelated quantum fluctuations between the TEM(00) and the TEM(01) transverse modes of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor laser by measuring the transverse spatial distribution of the laser beam intensity noise. Our experimental results are found to be in good agreement with the predictions of a phenomenological model that accounts for quantum correlations between transverse modes in a light beam.     

894nm高温垂直腔面发射激光器及其芯片级铯原子钟系统的应用

报道了自行研制的894 nm高温垂直腔面发射激光器(VCSEL)以及基于此类器件的芯片级铯原子钟系统的应用实验结果.根据芯片级铯原子钟对VCSEL在特定高温环境下产生894.6 nm线偏振激光的要求,对器件的量子阱增益及腔模位置等材料结构参数进行了优化,确定增益-腔模失谐量为-15 nm,使器件的基本性能在高温环境下保持稳定.研制的VCSEL器件指标为:20—90?C温度范围内阈值电流保持在0.20—0.23 m A,0.5 m A工作电流下输出功率0.1 mW;85.6?C温度环境下激光波长894.6 nm,偏振选择比59.8:1;采用所研制的VCSEL与铯原子作用,获得了芯片级铯原子钟实施激光频率稳频的吸收谱线和实施微波频率稳频的相干布居囚禁谱线.     

Polarization instabilities in a multi-transverse-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser with polarized optical feedback

We have experimentally studied polarization instabilities in the multi-transverse-mode regime of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser subject to polarized optical feedback. A dynamical regime that is similar to the transition from the so called low frequency fluctuation (LFF) to coherence collapse (CC) in the single-transverse-mode VCSEL is found and investigated. The role of higher order transverse modes is to increase the irregularity of the dynamics as shown experimentally and numerically.     

二维多色阵列产生及控制

基于超短脉冲非线性传输过程的空间分裂和级联非共线二阶非线性过程,可以在二阶非线性介质中直接产生二维多色阵列。所形成的二维瞬态光栅可以利用同步注入的超连续白光进行探测,并实现二维多色阵列上转换放大。利用相对强度很弱的二次谐波,可以对二维多色阵列及其上转换放大进行有效控制。     

Opto-acoustic spectroscopy with a visible CW dye laser

The first use of a tunable visible laser in conjunction with an opto-acoustic cell is described. By using a longitudinal resonance of the gas cell NO₂ can be detected around 10 p.p.b., the same order of detectivity as in the infrared. The use of the technique for studying photodissociation in the visible and u.v. is discussed.     

Linewidth narrowing caused by optical feedback in a multi-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

We have studied experimentally spectral characteristics of a multi-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser that is subject to optical feedback. Appropriate alignment of the feedback mirror can suppress higher-order modes and significantly decrease the spectral linewidth of the laser.