Trapped radiation in injection lasers

Abstract

The effect of trapped radiation on the stimulated emission threshold and power in injection lasers is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The density of trapped radiation is determined by the relation between the gain and the loss coefficients for this radiation in the active region. The last value depends upon treatment of the cavity sidewalls and laser diode geometry. The absorption of spontaneous emission in the active diode region provides for an additional optical excitation of the crystal and can result in a decrease of threshold current. The GaAs laser diodes with Fabry-Perot cavities and four-ended resonators were studied. The lasing threshold for the axial modes is increased with the diode width and that for the nonaxial radiating modes is decreased with it. The luminescence spectra from the cavity ends and sidewalls are investigated as a function of diode length and current density. It is shown that the gained luminescence can be an essential source of energy losses in injection lasers and leads to limitations of dimensions of laser diodes with planar p-n-junctions. Various methods for suppression of harmful radiation and for increase of the stimulated emission power in injection lasers are discussed.