Phase-locked semiconductor laser array with integral phase shifters

Patent · Tue Feb 03 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6728122

Ackley, D E

This patent describes a phase-locked semiconductor laser array comprising a body of semiconductor material having first and second reflecting surfaces with at least the first reflecting surface being partially transparent at the laser wavelength so that light may be emitted therefrom; the body including: a substrate with a pair of opposed major surfaces with a plurality of substantially parallel channels with lands therebetween in the first major surface and extending between the reflecting surfaces; a first cladding layer overlying the first major surface of the substrate and the channels; a laser cavity region overlying the first cladding layer; a second cladding layer overlying the laser cavity region; and first and second electrical contacts to the second cladding layer and the second major surface of the substrate respectively; wherein each channel is spaced from adjacent channels by a distance such that the laser oscillations over adjacent channels are phase-locked to one another; and alternate channels having means for shifting the phase of laser beams propagating in the cavity region over the alternate channels relative to the phase of laser beams propagating over the adjacent channels.

• Assignee: RCA Corp., Princeton, NJ
• Patent Number(s): US 4641311
• OSTI ID: 6728122
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
COATINGS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EQUIPMENT
LASER CAVITIES
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
LAYERS
MATERIALS
MODE LOCKING
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OSCILLATIONS
PHASE SHIFT
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
REFLECTIVE COATINGS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SPACE DEPENDENCE
SUBSTRATES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
WAVELENGTHS