Title :
Analysis of a submicroampere laser diode
Author :
Lear, K.L. ; Choquette, Kent D. ; Hadley, G Ronald ; Hou, H.Q. ; Mar, Alan ; Geib, Kent M.
Author_Institution :
Sandia Nat. Labs., Albuquerque, NM, USA
Abstract :
Summary form only given. Laser resonators with microscopic dimensions approaching the optical wavelength exhibit fundamentally new phenomena. Within microcavity laser diodes, reduced threshold currents are perhaps the most conspicuous token predicted for this regime. Here we discuss the operation of an oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) featuring a submicroampere threshold current. Several measurements including polarization, linewidth, optical beam profile, and light-current characteristics confirm that the device is operating as a laser at currents less than 1 /spl mu/A. Spectroscopic and far-field measurements are used to analyze the laser´s modal structure and operation.
Keywords :
current density; laser beams; laser cavity resonators; laser modes; laser variables measurement; light polarisation; quantum well lasers; spectral line breadth; surface emitting lasers; waveguide lasers; 1 muA; VCSEL; far-field measurements; laser resonators; light-current characteristics; linewidth; microcavity laser diodes; microscopic dimensions; modal structure; operation; optical beam profile; optical wavelength; oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser; polarization; reduced threshold currents; spectroscopic measurements; submicroampere laser diode; submicroampere threshold current; Current measurement; Diode lasers; Microcavities; Optical microscopy; Optical resonators; Optical surface waves; Surface emitting lasers; Threshold current; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers; Wavelength measurement;
Conference_Titel :
Lasers and Electro-Optics, 1996. CLEO '96., Summaries of papers presented at the Conference on
Conference_Location :
Anaheim, CA, USA
Print_ISBN :
1-55752-443-2
