Diode Laser Arrays

464 Pages·2005·19.34 MB·English

by  Dan Botez

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental prin-
ciples and applications of semiconductor diode laser arrays. All of the
major types of arrays are discussed in detail, including coherent, incoherent,
edge- and surface-emitting, horizontal- and vertical-cavity, individually
addressed, lattice-matched or strained-layer systems.
The first five chapters deal with various aspects of coherent arrays,
covering such topics as lasers, amplifiers, external-cavity control, theoretical
modelling and operational dynamics. Spatially incoherent arrays are then
discussed, with particular emphasis on their high-power capability and
reliability, and on practical packaging and pumping schemes. After
dealing with vertical-cavity surface-emitter arrays, which have potential
applications in parallel optical-signal processing, the book concludes with
a description of individually addressable arrays of use in multi-channel
optical recording.
Diode laser arrays have a host of actual and potential applications in
a variety of fields, and this detailed review of their properties and uses
will be of great value to engineers and scientists studying applications of
such arrays, as well as to graduate students and established researchers
in physics, chemistry and electrical engineering.

CAMBRIDGE STUDIES IN MODERN OPTICS: 14
Series Editors
P. L. KNIGHT
Optics Section, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
A. MILLER
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews
DIODE LASER ARRAYS
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Diode Laser Arrays
edited by D. Botez and D. R. Scifres
DIODE LASER ARRAYS
Edited by
DAN BOTEZ
Philip Dunham Reed Professor,
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Wisconsin, Madison
and
DON R. SCIFRES
President, SDL Inc.
CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY PRESS
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, Sao Paulo
Cambridge University Press
The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK
Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York
www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521419758
© Cambridge University Press 1994
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception
and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,
no reproduction of any part may take place without
the written permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published 1994
This digitally printed first paperback version 2005
A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data
Diode laser arrays / edited by Dan Botez and Don R. Scifres.
p. cm. - (Cambridge studies in modern optics ; 14)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0 521 41975 1
1. Semiconductor lasers. I. Botez, Dan. II. Scifres, Don R.
III. Series.
TA1700.D56 1994
621.36'6-dc20 93-41258 CIP
ISBN-13 978-0-521-41975-8 hardback
ISBN-10 0-521-41975-1 hardback
ISBN-13 978-0-521-02255-2 paperback
ISBN-10 0-521-02255-X paperback
Contents
List of contributors page xi
Preface xiii
1 Monolithic phase-locked semiconductor laser arrays 1
DAN BOTEZ
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Array modes 5
1.3 Arrays of positive-index guides 7
1.4 Arrays of antiguides 22
1.5 Future prospects for all-monolithic antiguided arrays 62
References 67
2 High-power coherent, semiconductor laser, master oscillator power
amplifiers and amplifier arrays 72
DAVID F. WELCH AND DAVID G. MEHUYS
2.1 Introduction 72
2.2 Monolithically integrated MOPAs and amplifier arrays 73
2.3 Monolithic active-grating master oscillator power amplifiers 85
2.4 Discrete-element MOPA performance 96
2.5 Integrated flared-amplifier MOPAs 109
2.6 Conclusions 119
References 120
3 Microoptical components applied to incoherent and coherent
laser arrays 123
JAMES R. LEGER
3.1 Requirements of incoherent and coherent systems 124
3.2 Microoptics 128
3.3 Coherent techniques 139
3.4 Incoherent techniques 162
3.5 Conclusion 175
References 176
vn
viii Contents
4 Modeling of diode laser arrays 180
G. RONALD HADLEY
4.1. Introduction 180
4.2 Edge-emitting arrays 182
4.3 Vertical-cavity surface-emitting arrays 212
4.4 Conclusion 221
Appendix 222
References 223
5 Dynamics of coherent semiconductor laser arrays 226
HERBERT G. WINFUL AND RICHARD K. DEFREEZ
5.1 Introduction 226
5.2 Coupled lasers 226
5.3 Coupled-mode theory for laser array dynamics 228
5.4 A propagation model for laser array dynamics 234
5.5 Experimental observations 241
5.6 Conclusions 252
References 253
6 High-average-power semiconductor laser arrays and laser array
packaging with an emphasis on pumping solid state lasers 255
RICHARD SOLARZ, RAY BEACH, BILL BENETT, BARRY FREITAS,
MARK EMANUEL, GEORG ALBRECHT, BRIAN COMASKEY,
STEVE SUTTON AND WILLIAM KRUPKE
6.1 Introduction 255
6.2 High-power semiconductor laser array requirements 256
6.3 Approaches to packaging high-average-power two-
dimensional semiconductor laser arrays 263
6.4 Performance comparison of devices fabricated to date 268
6.5 Laser diode array performance 276
6.6 Fundamental limits to high-average-power operation and
potential improvements 287
References 291
7 High-power diode laser arrays and their reliability 294
D. R. SCIFRES AND H. H. KUNG
7.1 Introduction 294
7.2 Failure mechanisms of high-power laser arrays 308
7.3 Lifetests of high-power diode arrays 316
7.4 Environmental tests of packaged diode laser arrays 326
7.5 Future directions for high-power diode laser array research 329
References 330
8 Strained layer quantum well heterostructure laser arrays 336
JAMES J. COLEMAN
8.1 Introduction 336
8.2 Strained layer metallurgy and critical thickness 338
8.3 The effects of strain on emission wavelength 341
8.4 Threshold current density in strained layer structures 344
Contents ix
8.5 Antiguiding in strained layer lasers 351
8.6 Reliability 355
8.7 Conventional edge emitter and surface emitter laser arrays 356
8.8 Leaky mode and antiguided strained layer laser arrays 359
8.9 Other strained layer laser materials systems 360
References 363
9 Vertical cavity surface-emitting laser arrays 368
CONNIE J. CHANG-HASNAIN
9.1. Introduction 368
9.2 Vertical cavity surface-emitting laser design 370
9.3 VCSEL array fabrication 373
9.4 VCSEL characteristics 377
9.5 Two-dimensional multiple wavelength VCSEL array 387
9.6 Phase-locked VCSEL arrays 400
9.7 Addressable VCSEL array 402
9.8 Future prospects 410
References 411
10 Individually addressed arrays of diode lasers 414
DONALD B. CARLIN
10.1 Introduction 414
10.2 Multichannel optical recording 415
10.3 Individually addressable arrays 416
10.4 Interelement isolation and array packaging 424
10.5 Representative array structures and reported results 430
10.6 Surface emitting arrays 435
10.7 Summary 439
References 440
Index 444