2-D monolithic coherent semiconductor laser array

US5276700A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• TRW Limited · US

Inventors

• Michael Jansen · Palo Alto, US
• Dan Botez · Mount Holly, US
• Luke J. Mawst · Sun Prairie, US
• Thomas J. Roth · Redondo Beach, US
• Jane J. Yang · Los Angeles, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 12, 1992
• Grant date: Jan 4, 1994
• Expiry date: Mar 12, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S5/42
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

This invention discloses a semiconductor laser incorporating a plurality of resonant optical waveguide array cells. In each of the resonant optical waveguide array cells, leaky waveguide elements are coupled together such that radiation leaked from one antiguide element is coupled with radiation propagating along another antiguide element across an interelement region. As the radiation propagates through the array it is reflected at each end of the array until it builds up enough optical gain to reach lasing threshold. Then, radiation is leaked from the sides of each array such that this radiation can impinge other resonant optical waveguide arrays and be coupled with these arrays in phase to develop a laser beam having a higher intensity than can be achieved with a single array semiconductor laser.