Ring and axis mode lasing in quasi-stadium laser diodes with concentric end mirrors

We fabricated quasi-stadium laser diodes whose resonators consist of two concentric curved end mirrors and two straight sidewall mirrors. We observed two lasing modes that correspond to different beam propagations along the cavity axis and along a ring trajectory, and different far-field patterns with wide angular separation. The modes can be selected by control of an electrode pattern. We also show that the far-field patterns numerically obtained by the extended Fox-Li mode calculation method are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Self-detection of lasing characteristics for semiconductor ring laser diodes

A novel method of measurement of lasing characteristics for a ring laser diode is proposed without branching of the optical lasing power. The lasing power and the linewidth as a function of the injection current have been measured by detecting the RF power by the terminal voltage change of a ring LD. The linewidth is estimated to be 55 kHz atl=1.75l _th.     

Design of optical coupling systems between two-dimensional quasi-stadium laser diodes and single-mode optical fibers

Optical coupling systems between a two-dimensional quasi-stadium laser diode and single-mode optical fibers using gradient-index rod lenses are designed for both stable and unstable laser resonators for the first time. A novel numerical approach using a combination of the extended Fox-Li calculation method and Gaussian beam transformations is proposed. In the case of a stable laser resonator, two kinds of beam propagation modes appear, namely the axis mode, in which an optical beam propagates along the cavity axis, and the ring mode, in which optical beams propagate along the diamond-shaped trajectory. The coupling efficiencies are found to be 54% for the axis mode and 52% for the ring mode. In contrast, an unstable laser resonator exhibits complicated modes, in which several highly directional beams are emitted from the end mirrors. The total coupling efficiency for these output beams is calculated to be 9.6%. The 3-dB tolerances for the lens pitch and alignment angles of the gradient-index rod lenses are also discussed.     

Quasi-stadium laser diodes with an unstable resonator condition

We have observed lasing in a complicated eigenmode of a quasi-stadium laser diode with an unstable resonator consisting of two curved end mirrors obeying an unstable resonator condition and two straight sidewall mirrors. The laser was fabricated by application of a reactive-ion-etching technique to a molecular beam epitaxy-grown graded-index separate-confinement heterostructure single-quantum-well GaAs/AlGaAs structure. The far-field pattern shows that the lasing mode corresponds to the complicated lowest-loss mode obtained numerically by an extended Fox-Li method.     

Variable reflectivity unstable resonators for a long pulse XeCl excimer laser

The divergence of a long pulse, low gain XeCl excimer laser has been improved using confocal positive branch unstable resonators with variable reflectivity mirrors as outcouplers. With variable reflectivity unstable resonators, nearly diffraction limited beams are obtained. Variable reflectivity resonators lead to high brightness beams (9.1 10 W/(cm sr)). Different reflection profiles were studied with respect to their influence on the beam quality and the energy extraction.     

High brightness operation of a XeCl laser with negative branch unstable resonators

Confocal and non-confocal negative branch unstable resonators with an intracavity spatial filter have been applied to a high-gain short-pulse UV preionized XeCl laser. The near- and far-field radiation characteristics have been investigated in both configurations. Laser beams of larger brightness have been obtained with non-confocal schemes. A maximum beam brightness of 1.3×10¹⁴ Wcm^–2Sr^–1 has been achieved.     

The use of confocal unstable resonators in a double Rogowski TEA CO2 laser

The use of positive branch confocal unstable resonators in a double Rogowski TEA CO₂ laser is described. Single mode energies have been achieved of up to 62% of the maximum obtained multimode under similar conditions. The resonator far fields have been measured and found to be within 1.1 times the diffraction limit predicted by simple theory.     

Wavelength conversion in GaAs micro-ring resonators

Tightly confined, low-loss waveguides in highly nonlinear materials permit nonlinear optical interactions to occur over much shorter distances than do fibers. The nonlinear interactions are further enhanced in resonators. Both theory and experiment of enhanced four-wave mixing in micro-ring resonators are presented that can be used for many applications. A conversion efficiency of 14% achievable with only 10-mW peak pump power is predicted under realizable conditions. The experiment, the first one to the authors' knowledge in nonlinear optics performed in micro-rings, shows, even in a lossy GaAs/AlGaAs ring, a 26-dB improvement in the conversion efficiency compared with that of an equivalent straight waveguide, in agreement with theory.     

Direct single-mode lasing in polymer microbottle resonators through surface destruction

We demonstrate an effective approach of mode suppression by simply using a tungsten probe to destroy the external neck surface of polymer microbottle resonators. The higher-order bottle modes with large axial orders,spatially located around the neck surface of the microresonator, will suffer large optical losses. Thus, excitation just with an ordinary free-space light beam will ensure direct generation of single fundamental bottle mode lasers.This method is with very low cost and convenient and can obtain high side-mode suppression factors. Our work demonstrated here may have promising applications such as in lasing and sensing devices.     

Propagation in unstable and plane-mirror optical resonators

It is shown that propagation in an unstable resonator can be expressed in a form similar to that applicable to a plane-mirror resonator, but with the magnification appearing as a scaling parameter.     

正支共焦非稳腔的离焦像差特性

 正支共焦非稳腔在出光过程中易受环境扰动而造成腔长失调,易受热积累影响而使腔镜变形,从而使输出光束产生离焦像差和部分其它像差。为了实现对离焦像差的校正,针对不同的产生原因,提出了2种离焦像差特性分析方法：一为腔镜相对位置失调引起的离焦像差特性理论分析方法,它是另一种分析方法的基础;二为腔镜变形引起的等效腔长变化导致的离焦像差特性分析方法,它是实际激光器中的主要分析方法。得到了离焦像差与腔长的特性关系和离焦像差与腔镜变形量之间的特性关系。研究表明：腔长改变和腔镜变形对离焦像差的影响本质是一样的,都是改变了谐振腔的共焦点位置;腔长改变或腔镜矢高变化与离焦像差都成近似的线性关系。实验验证了离焦像差特性分析方法的有效性,最后指出离焦像差特性可作为激光器中离焦像差动态补偿的有效依据。     

Propagation offset characteristics of annular laser beams from confocal unstable resonators through the natural atmosphere

Based on the laser field from a positive confocal unstable resonator (ab initio), the propagation characteristics of the beam through atmosphere are investigated by means of fast Fourier transform (FFT), and it is assumed that the refractive index and absorption of atmosphere are only decided by the air molecules. Considering the thermal effects of the laser beam and wind velocity of air, we evaluate the beam offsets, beam spreading, and beam qualities of the laser field transmitting from the resonator through the natural atmosphere. Meanwhile, the far-field intensity distributions of the laser beam with various intensities in the atmosphere are obtained. It is shown that the far-field diffraction patterns are deformed due to absorption of air and wind velocity. β parameter and Strehl ratio, which are usually used for high-power lasers, are introduced to estimate the beam quality characteristics. With increasing the intensity of the beam, the far-field diagram patterns are outspreaded, the peak intensities reduced, the peak centers shifted, and the beam quality characteristics greatly degraded.     

FRET lasing from self-assembled DNA tetrahedral nanostructures suspended in optofluidic droplet resonators

We demonstrate Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) lasing from self-assembled tetrahedral DNA complexes labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 dyes and suspended as a gain medium in aqueous microdroplet cavities deposited on a superhydrophobic surface. Threshold fluence and differential efficiency are characterized for DNA complexes containing 1Cy3-3Cy5 and 3Cy3-1Cy5. We demonstrate that at a constant Cy5 concentration, average threshold fluence is reduced 3 to 8 times and average differential efficiency is enhanced 6 to 30 times for 3Cy3-1Cy5 as compared to 1Cy3-3Cy5. Using 3Cy3-1Cy5 nanostructures, FRET lasing is observed at very low concentrations down to ～ 1 μM. This work shows that optofluidic microlasers based on droplet resonators can be combined with DNA nanotechnology to explore applications in bio/chemical sensing and novel photonic devices.     

Fresnel filtering in lasing emission from scarred modes of wave-chaotic optical resonators

We study lasing emission from asymmetric resonant cavity GaN microlasers. By comparing far-field intensity patterns with images of the microlaser we find that the lasing modes are concentrated on three-bounce unstable periodic ray orbits; i.e., the modes are scarred. The high-intensity emission directions of these scarred modes are completely different from those predicted by applying Snell's law to the ray orbit. This effect is due to the process of "Fresnel filtering" which occurs when a beam of finite angular spread is incident at the critical angle for total internal reflection.     

Intracavity frequency doubling effects of passively mode－locked Nd：YAP pulsed laser in two different unstable resonators

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Surface mode coupling in GaAs/AlGaAs laser diodes - a new concept for a single laser mode emission

We present a new concept for a single mode laser diode. This concept is based on the strong coupling between the laser mode propagating in the active region and a surface mode on top of the laser diode. By this we achieve both a single-mode-like operation and a surface emission. We present a model which explains qualitatively the emission spectrum and which allows an optimization with respect to real single mode operation. The major advantage of this type of laser diode is its simple fabrication.The device utilizes the well established technique of the conventional striped laser and requires no regrowth.     

Coma compensation in off-axis laser resonators

Coma can introduce large linear losses in laser resonators with off-axis focusing. Compensation of coma and astigmatism is considered for a variety of resonator arrangements. It is demonstrated that it is only possible to compensate for both at a unique off-axis angle. A resonator design is proposed for eliminating coma and astigmatism.