Two-Dimensional Photonic Band-Gap Defect Mode Laser

TLDR

The optical microcavity consists of a half‑wavelength‑thick waveguide for vertical confinement and a two‑dimensional photonic crystal mirror for lateral localization. A defect in the photonic crystal traps photons in a 2.5‑cubic half‑wavelength volume (~0.03 µm³), and the device is fabricated in InGaAsP with strained quantum‑well gain tuned to 1.55 µm at room temperature. A single‑defect cavity laser was demonstrated, showing pulsed lasing at 1.5 µm from optically pumped devices cooled to 143 K.

Abstract

A laser cavity formed from a single defect in a two-dimensional photonic crystal is demonstrated. The optical microcavity consists of a half wavelength-thick waveguide for vertical confinement and a two-dimensional photonic crystal mirror for lateral localization. A defect in the photonic crystal is introduced to trap photons inside a volume of 2.5 cubic half-wavelengths, approximately 0.03 cubic micrometers. The laser is fabricated in the indium gallium arsenic phosphide material system, and optical gain is provided by strained quantum wells designed for a peak emission wavelength of 1.55 micrometers at room temperature. Pulsed lasing action has been observed at a wavelength of 1.5 micrometers from optically pumped devices with a substrate temperature of 143 kelvin.