Transverse mode tailoring in diode lasers based on coupled large optical cavities

Abstract

The key principles of transverse mode engineering in edge-emitting lasers with broadened waveguides based on coupled large optical cavity (CLOC) structures are presented. The CLOC laser design is shown to be an effective approach for reducing the optical loss, broadening the waveguide, and lowering the beam divergence. Having simulated the sensitivity of the CLOC design to variations in layer thicknesses and compositions we have shown its high robustness. Advanced versions of the CLOC laser structures having two extra passive waveguides have been treated and shown to effectively eliminate several transverse modes. We have considered an application of the CLOC concept for waveguides with shifted active regions aimed at reducing laser thermal and electric resistances.