Spectral characteristics of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with external optical feedback

Author

Chung, Y.C. ; Lee, Y.H.

Author_Institution

AT&T Bell Labs., Holmdel, NJ, USA

Volume

3

Issue

7

fYear

1991

fDate

7/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

597

Lastpage

599

Abstract

The measurement of the effects of external optical feedback on the spectra of VCSELs (vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers) is reported. It is surprising that VCSELs have a sensitivity to optical feedback comparable to that of conventional edge-emitting lasers such as DFBs despite their significantly different structures. This is because the extremely short cavity length of VCSELs negates the effects of their highly reflective output mirrors. As in edge-emitting lasers, VCSELs exhibit well-defined regimes of feedback effects in their spectra. Since optical isolators cannot be easily applied to VCSELs due to their array structure, these lasers may be most useful in applications which are not sensitive to the spectral qualities of the light source.<>

Keywords

feedback; laser accessories; laser cavity resonators; mirrors; semiconductor laser arrays; array structure; diode laser arrays; external optical feedback; highly reflective output mirrors; light source; sensitivity; short cavity length; spectral qualities; vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers; Isolators; Laser feedback; Light sources; Mirrors; Optical arrays; Optical feedback; Optical sensors; Surface emitting lasers; Ultraviolet sources; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.87925

Filename

87925