Single mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser
First Claim
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1. A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) comprising:
- a first reflector having a first reflectivity;
a radially-dependent mesa layer above the first reflector having a central point aligned with a central axis;
a second reflector having a second reflectivity, wherein the second reflectivity is less than the first reflectivity;
a light generation region between the first and second reflectors; and
a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is coupled to the second reflector, and wherein the second surface is formed into a lens shape to act upon light emitted by the VCSEL through the substrate,wherein the VCSEL lases in a single transverse mode,wherein the radially-dependent mesa layer has a first thickness that is approximately a quarter of a VCSEL lasing wavelength within a first region having a first diameter around the central axis, and the radially-dependent mesa layer has a second thickness that is approximately half of the VCSEL lasing wavelength in a second region surrounding the first region.
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Abstract
A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) includes a first reflector having a first reflectivity; a second reflector having a second reflectivity, where the second reflectivity is less than the first reflectivity; a gain region between the first and second reflectors; and a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, where the first surface is coupled to the second reflector, and where the second surface is formed into a lens to act upon light emitted by the VCSEL through the substrate. The VCSEL lases in a single transverse mode.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) comprising:
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a first reflector having a first reflectivity; a radially-dependent mesa layer above the first reflector having a central point aligned with a central axis; a second reflector having a second reflectivity, wherein the second reflectivity is less than the first reflectivity; a light generation region between the first and second reflectors; and a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is coupled to the second reflector, and wherein the second surface is formed into a lens shape to act upon light emitted by the VCSEL through the substrate, wherein the VCSEL lases in a single transverse mode, wherein the radially-dependent mesa layer has a first thickness that is approximately a quarter of a VCSEL lasing wavelength within a first region having a first diameter around the central axis, and the radially-dependent mesa layer has a second thickness that is approximately half of the VCSEL lasing wavelength in a second region surrounding the first region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) comprising:
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a light generation region in a cavity, wherein the cavity is coupled to a first reflector on a first side and a second reflector on a second side; an oxide layer positioned at or near a node of a standing wave in the cavity of the VCSEL, wherein the oxide layer has an aperture with an aperture diameter, and wherein the aperture has a higher refractive index than a surrounding oxide layer; the first reflector, wherein a reflectivity of the first reflector is spatially dependent, such that a center axis of the first reflector aligns with a center of the aperture of the oxide layer, and a central region of the first reflector around the center axis having a central diameter has a higher reflectivity than a second region of the first reflector surrounding the central region, wherein the VCSEL lases in a single transverse mode, and further wherein the central diameter is less than the aperture diameter; and a radially-dependent mesa layer above the first reflector, wherein the radially-dependent mesa layer has a thickness that is approximately a quarter of a VCSEL lasing wavelength with a first region having a first diameter around the center axis, and the radially-dependent mesa layer has a second thickness that is approximately half of the VCSEL lasing wavelength in a second region surrounding the first region. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method for fabricating a single transverse mode VCSEL comprising:
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depositing a ring-shaped electrically conductive material on a first reflector, wherein the first reflector is coupled to a light generation region, the light generation region is further coupled to a second reflector, and the second reflector is coupled to a first surface of a substrate; depositing a hard mask layer over the ring-shaped electrically conductive material; removing material from the first reflector and the light generation region to form a wide mesa beneath the hard mask layer; and oxidizing a portion of a layer in the first reflector containing aluminum to create an oxide aperture, wherein an improvement comprises; removing the hard mask layer; depositing an oxide layer on the wide mesa; removing portions of the oxide layer to leave a remaining oxide layer within the ring-shaped electrically conductive material, wherein at least a portion of the remaining oxide layer has a thickness that is approximately a quarter of a wavelength, and further wherein the VCSEL lases in a single transverse mode at the wavelength; and depositing a metallic reflector layer on top of a quarter wavelength thickness of the remaining oxide layer, wherein the metallic reflector layer is anchored to the ring-shaped electrically conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification