Lateral integration of VCSEL and amplifier with resonant wavelength detuning design

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate the lateral integration of a VCSEL and a slow-light VCSEL amplifier with in-plane resonant wavelength detuning design, enabling the unidirectional coupling and stable singlemode operation with good beam quality. The modelling and simulation result of the wavelength detuning and unidirectional coupling is shown. A slow light laterally coupled from the VCSEL to the amplifier can be amplified uniformly when the amplifier is pumped above the threshold current. We also present the experimental data of the beam quality, output power and spectrum. The measured data show the increased single-mode output power with good beam quality in comparison with conventional VCSELs. A record single-mode power (40 mW) with narrow beam divergence (<0.06°) is presented.

Enhanced high-frequency modulation of single-mode 850nm VCSELs via dual transverse-cavity integration

“…There still remains a challenge to increase the coupling strength in single-mode coupled cavity VCSELs [31]- [34]. We also realized the lateral coupling of a VCSEL to an amplifier/beam scanner with an in-plane resonant wavelength detuning design [29,35]. While our recent activities on metal-aperture 1060nm VCSELs show high-bandwidth and single-mode operations [32][33][34][35], it is still important to develop high-speed 850nm single-mode VCSELs since an 850nm-MMF link has been standard in datacenter networks.…”

“…We also realized the lateral coupling of a VCSEL to an amplifier/beam scanner with an in-plane resonant wavelength detuning design [29,35]. While our recent activities on metal-aperture 1060nm VCSELs show high-bandwidth and single-mode operations [32][33][34][35], it is still important to develop high-speed 850nm single-mode VCSELs since an 850nm-MMF link has been standard in datacenter networks. In this paper, we have engineered a single mode 850nm VCSEL with double coupled cavities, equipped with a rectangular aperture.…”

High power surface grating slow-light VCSEL

“…21) We spent efforts the lateral integration of a single-mode VCSEL with a slow-light amplifier. 27,28) Alternatively, we proposed and demonstrated a single-mode "slow light laser," combining a slow-light VCSEL waveguide with a coupled-cavity resonator. 29) A quasi single mode with power of 22 mW was obtained, however, highorder modes appeared at higher current injections.…”

Surface grating VCSEL-integrated amplifier/beam scanner with high power and single mode operation

“…[19][20][21][22] In our group, we proposed and demonstrated a slow light VCSEL amplifier with high output power over 8 W. [23][24][25] In the amplifier, an external light source is needed as a seed light which is coupled into the amplifier. We also demonstrated a VCSEL integrated amplifier 26) which is free of an external light source for making the device compact, but the coupling power from the VCSEL to the amplifier is below 1 mW, which limits the amplified single mode output power to around 40 mW. There still remain challenges in increasing the coupling power in order to increase the amplified power.…”