Title :
Compact mode expanded lasers using resonant coupling between a 1.55-μm InGaAsP tapered active region and an underlying coupling waveguide
Author :
Saini, S.S. ; Vusirikala, V. ; Whaley, R. ; Johnson, F.G. ; Stone, D. ; Dagenais, M.
Author_Institution :
Lab. for Phys. Scis., Maryland Univ., College Park, MD, USA
Abstract :
We demonstrate a novel expanded mode laser for enhanced laser-fiber coupling based on resonant coupling between a tapered active waveguide and an underlying coupling waveguide. This device was grown in a single standard epitaxial growth and was processed using conventional fabrication techniques, thus making it attractive for low-cost manufacturing. The total taper length required for mode transformation was 200 μm and the excess transformation loss was 0.6 dB indicating the compact, low-loss mode transformation. Far-field divergence angles (13/spl deg/×24/spl deg/) and improved coupling to cleaved single-mode fibers (3.8-dB coupling loss), were achieved.
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; epitaxial growth; gallium arsenide; gallium compounds; indium compounds; infrared sources; laser modes; laser transitions; optical couplers; semiconductor growth; semiconductor lasers; waveguide lasers; 1.55 mum; 200 mum; 3.8 dB; 6 dB; InGaAsP; InGaAsP tapered active region; cleaved single-mode fibers; compact mode expanded lasers; conventional fabrication techniques; coupling loss; enhanced laser-fiber coupling; excess transformation loss; expanded mode laser; far-field divergence angles; low-cost manufacturing; low-loss mode transformation; mode transformation; optical fibre coupling; resonant coupling; single standard epitaxial growth; tapered active waveguide; total taper length; underlying coupling waveguide; Coupling circuits; Epitaxial growth; Laser modes; Optical coupling; Optical device fabrication; Optical fiber devices; Optical frequency conversion; Optical waveguides; Resonance; Waveguide lasers;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
