Title :
A Novel Intracavity Lens Design for Compact and High Efficiency Tapered Laser Diode
Author :
Lau, F.K. ; Tee, C.W. ; Penty, R.V. ; White, I.H. ; Michel, N. ; Krakowski, M.
Author_Institution :
Centre for Adv. Photonics & Electron., Cambridge Univ.
Abstract :
An integrated parabolic lens capable of introducing a diverging effect to the optical mode propagating within the cavity of a tapered laser is proposed and demonstrated. This idea allows broader high-power beams to be generated by shorter cavities. Diverging lenses with etch depths of 0.13 and 0.27 mum are implemented, with 12 (9.5%) and 16.8 mum (13.3%) overall broadening of the near-fields widths measured at 1/e2 intensity. The peak output power as well as the threshold current is found to increase following the lens etching process, confirming the beneficial broadening effect introduced by the diverging lens
Keywords :
etching; laser accessories; laser beams; laser cavity resonators; laser modes; lenses; optical design techniques; semiconductor lasers; broad high-power beams; broadening effect; compact laser diode; diverging lens; high efficiency laser diode; integrated parabolic lens; intracavity lens design; lens etching; optical mode propagation; tapered laser cavity; tapered laser diode; Diode lasers; Etching; Integrated optics; Laser beams; Laser modes; Lenses; Optical design; Optical propagation; Power generation; Threshold current; $M^{2}$ factor; Beam quality; Gaussian beam; catastrophic optical mirror damage (COMD); diverging lens; high-brightness lasers; high-power lasers; integrated lens; mode expansion; tapered lasers;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LPT.2006.890105
