Surface-emitting laser designs based on one and two-dimensional photonic crystals

Summary form only given. We propose a class of laser designs based on oneand two-dimensional (1D and 2D) photonic crystals (PCs), which result in surface emitting lasers with a fabrication process similar to that used in edge-emitting distributed feedback lasers. The basic principle employed in our designs is based on our recent discovery that the output coupling characteristics of 2D gratings (or PCs) are significantly different from 1D gratings. In 2D PCs, phase-matching conditions result in the coupling of light to one or a discrete number of directions instead of a cylindrical wave. We have designed numerous combinations of lasers and couplers, which have the potential to couple to a single spot normal to the plane of the waveguide. The lasers are experimentally realized with organic semiconductors.