Title :
Two-dimensional surface-emitting leaky-wave coupled laser arrays
Author :
Mawst, Luke J. ; Boetz, Dan ; Jansen, Michael ; Zmudzinski, Charles ; Ou, Szutsun Simon ; Sergant, Moshe ; Tu, Chan A. ; Roth, Thomas J. ; Peterson, G. ; Valley, M. ; Yang, J.J.
Author_Institution :
TRW Res. Center, Redondo Beach, CA, USA
fDate :
6/1/1993 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Leaky-wave coupling has been used for the first time to phase-lock surface-emitting antiguided arrays in a two-dimensional (2-D) configuration. Small differences between the length of separate array sections can be compensated for by phase shifts induced by carrier injection between the sections. Both four- and nine-array-section devices, arranged in diamond-shaped patterns, were phase-locked. Four-array-section devices provide far-field patterns with 35% fringe visibility to 0.2-W pulsed output power. Higher spatial coherence (45% fringe visibility) to 3.9-W pulsed output power is obtained from nine-array-section devices. The large improvement in coherent power of the nine-array-section devices appears to be because they are parallel coupled. The inherent single-spatial-mode stability of resonant optical waveguide (ROW) arrays to high drive levels above threshold allows the application of a coupled-mode formalism to 2-D arrays of ROW devices. The modeling indicates that resonant 16-array-section devices produce 10 W of spatially coherent power
Keywords :
laser beams; laser modes; laser theory; semiconductor laser arrays; 0.2 W; 10 W; 2D configurations; 3.9 W; antiguided arrays; carrier injection; coherent power; coupled-mode formalism; diamond-shaped patterns; far-field patterns; fringe visibility; leaky-wave coupling; nine-array-section devices; parallel coupled devices; phase locking; phase shifts; resonant optical waveguide arrays; single-spatial-mode stability; spatial coherence; surface-emitting leaky-wave coupled laser arrays; Optical arrays; Optical coupling; Optical pulses; Optical surface waves; Optical waveguides; Phased arrays; Power generation; Resonance; Spatial coherence; Surface emitting lasers;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
