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Resonant periodic gain surface-emitting semiconductor lasers

Journal Article · · IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/3.29287· OSTI ID:5774170

A novel surface-emitting semiconductor laser structure with a vertical cavity, extremely short gain medium length, and enhanced gain at a specific design wavelength is described. The active region consists of a series of quantum wells spaced at one half the wavelength of a particular optical transition in the quantum wells. This spatial periodicity allows the antinodes of the standing wave optical field to coincide with the gain elements, enhancing the frequency selectivity, increasing the gain in the vertical direction by a factor of two compared to a uniform medium or a nonresonant multiple quantum well, and substantially reducing amplified spontaneous emission. Optically pumped lasing was achieved in a GaAs/AlGaAs structure grown by molecular beam epitaxy, with the shortest gain medium (310 nm) ever reported. Various other optoelectronic devices which depend on the interaction between an electromagnetic standing wave and a carrier population distribution can also benefit from this concept.

Research Organization:
New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM (USA). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy; New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM (USA). Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
OSTI ID:
5774170
Journal Information:
IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States) Vol. 25:6; ISSN IEJQA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English