Use of current channeling in multiple node laser systems and methods thereof
US7646797B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jan 12, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2301/173
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Current channels, blocking areas, or strips in a semiconductor laser are used to channel injected current into the antinodal region of the optical standing wave present in the optical cavity, while restricting the current flow to the nodal regions. Previous devices injected current into both the nodal and antinodal regions of the wave, which is fed by the population inversion created in the active region by the injected electrons and holes, but inversion created in the nodal regions is lost to fluorescence or supports the creation of undesirable competing longitudinal modes, causing inefficiency. Directing current to the antinodal regions where the electric field is at its maximum causes a selected longitudinal mode to preferentially oscillate regardless of where the longitudinal mode lies with respect to the gain curve. In one embodiment, exacting fabrication of the Fabry-Perot cavity correlates the current channels to antinodal regions, vis-a vis current blocking areas, strips or segmented layers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.