Integration of 2D photonic crystals with ridge waveguide lasers

2D triangular photonic crystals (PCs) have been integrated as laser mirrors in electrically pumped InGaAs/AlGaAs ridge waveguide lasers. The investigated PC lattice constants range from 160 to 400 nm with light incident along both main symmetry directions M and K. The observed cw laser performance is strongly dependent on both orientation and period of the PC. This behaviour is discussed using a 2D transfer matrix calculation of the PC reflectivity. As a demonstrator device relying on the 2D light confining properties of the PC, an active beamsplitter with a bending radius of 5 m is presented. Here, the PC is successfully used as cladding material in the S-bent regions of the ridge waveguide, significantly reducing the bending loss.