Ridge-type semiconductor lasers with antiguiding cladding layers for horizontal transverse modes

To suppress lasing in higher-order transverse modes and improve kink levels in ridge-type 980-nm fiber pump semiconductor lasers, a novel ridge structure with antiguiding cladding layers for horizontal transverse modes is proposed, and lasing characteristics are theoretically analyzed. In the proposed ridge structure, kink levels are improved by suppressing spatial hole burning and lowering optical gains for higher-order transverse modes, with an increase in the step d of the antiguiding cladding layers, which are located at both sides of a mesa. For d=100-230 nm, kink-free laser operation is obtained up to the injected current of 2 A.