Waveguide and photonic crystal design of photonic crystal surface-emitting laser

Abstract

980 nm GaAs-based photonic crystal surface emitting lasers containing all semiconductor GaAs/InGaP and GaAs/air photonic crystals (PC) inside their cavity are theoretically investigated. We use a combination of an average index approach and optical coupled mode theory to optimize the PC interaction with optical modes of the laser waveguide and draw guidelines for design of PCSELs based on a range of material systems and operating wavelengths. Results show that the all-semiconductor PC provides a higher coupling with the optical mode in most cases.