High power single-mode (λ=1.3–1.6 μm) laser diodes based on quantum well InGaAsP/InP heterostructures

Abstract

The possibility of achieving maximal optical output power in the single-mode lasing for mesa-stripe laser diodes fabricated on the basis of InGaAsP/InP quantum-well heterostructures with separate confinement have been studied both experimentally and theoretically. The basic condition for the single-mode lasing of laser diodes in a wide range of driving currents is shown to be the precise choice of the effective refractive index ΔnL discontinuity in the plane parallel to the p-n junction. A InGaAsP/InP separate confinement heterostructure with a step waveguide, with a threshold current density of 180 A/cm2 and an internal quantum efficiency of stimulated emission of 93–99%, has been manufactured via the MOCVD method. The optimization of the mesa-stripe diode design for the developed InGaAsP/InP heterostructure is carried out with the aim of achieving maximal optical output power in the case of single-mode lasing. An output power of 185 mW is attained in the laser diode with the mesa-stripe width W=4.5 μm (λ=1480 nm). The maximal continuous output power was as high as 300 mW. The full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the lateral far-field pattern increased by 1° relative to the threshold value.