Improving beam quality in broad area semiconductor amplifiers

Ramon Herrero; Muriel Botey; Nikhil P. Kumar; Kestutis Staliunas

doi:10.1117/12.922849

11 May 2012 Improving beam quality in broad area semiconductor amplifiers

Ramon Herrero, Muriel Botey, Nikhil P. Kumar, Kestutis Staliunas

Proceedings Volume 8432, Semiconductor Lasers and Laser Dynamics V; 843222 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922849
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2012, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

Broad area semiconductors lasers and amplifiers are of technological relevance because of their high conversion efficiency and high output power, in a wide range of wavelengths. However, due to their specific waveguiding planar geometry, which is unique to this kind of heterostructures, the beam is usually of low spatial and temporal quality. Therefore, the beam quality restricts their potential use. We propose to improve the beam quality of semiconductors lasers and amplifiers using a two-dimensional spatial modulation of both the refractive index and the optical gain/loss, on the scale of the wavelength. The modulation of the refractive index and gain/loss function on a small scale modifies the spatial dispersion and introduces anisotropic gain on a large scale. As a result, the modified dispersion gives rise to interesting and technologically useful effects, such as spatial filtering or focalization behind the amplifier. We show that such effects can be achieved considering a modulated injection current which imposes a periodic spatial modulation of the active layer of the semiconductor.

Citation Download Citation

Ramon Herrero, Muriel Botey, Nikhil P. Kumar, and Kestutis Staliunas "Improving beam quality in broad area semiconductor amplifiers", Proc. SPIE 8432, Semiconductor Lasers and Laser Dynamics V, 843222 (11 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922849

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available