Surface gratings on VCSELS for polarization pinning
First Claim
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1. A method of manufacturing a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), the method comprising:
- growing a lower mirror on a substrate;
growing an active region on the lower mirror, the active region having one or more quantum wells configured to generate light by stimulated emission;
growing an upper mirror on the active region;
forming an electrical aperture in or near the active region;
positioning a light transmissive grating layer on the upper mirror and above the electrical aperture, the light transmissive grating layer including a low index of refraction layer on the upper mirror and a high index of refraction layer on the low index of refraction layer, the high index of refraction layer having an index of refraction that is at least about 0.3 greater than the index of refraction of the low index of refraction layer; and
forming a grating that extends at least partially into the high index of refraction layer, the grating configured to pin polarization of light emitted from the active region.
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Abstract
Methods for manufacturing a polarization pinned vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). Steps include growing a lower mirror on a substrate; growing an active region on the lower mirror; growing an upper mirror on the active region; depositing a grating layer on the upper mirror; and etching a grating into the grating layer.
5 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), the method comprising:
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growing a lower mirror on a substrate; growing an active region on the lower mirror, the active region having one or more quantum wells configured to generate light by stimulated emission; growing an upper mirror on the active region; forming an electrical aperture in or near the active region; positioning a light transmissive grating layer on the upper mirror and above the electrical aperture, the light transmissive grating layer including a low index of refraction layer on the upper mirror and a high index of refraction layer on the low index of refraction layer, the high index of refraction layer having an index of refraction that is at least about 0.3 greater than the index of refraction of the low index of refraction layer; and forming a grating that extends at least partially into the high index of refraction layer, the grating configured to pin polarization of light emitted from the active region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of manufacturing a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), the method comprising:
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growing a lower mirror on a substrate; growing an active region on the lower mirror, the active region having one or more quantum wells configured to generate light by stimulated emission; growing an upper mirror on the active region; forming an electrical aperture in or near the active region; depositing a light transmissive grating layer on the upper mirror and above the electrical aperture; and etching a grating into the grating layer, the grating layer being configured to pin polarization of light emitted from the active region, the grating including a plurality of protrusions, each protrusion having a period of between about 1 micron and about 2 microns, the width of each protrusion being between 10% and 60% of the period of the protrusions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of manufacturing a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), the method comprising:
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growing a lower mirror on a substrate; growing an active region on the lower mirror, the active region having one or more quantum wells configured to generate light by stimulated emission; forming an oxide layer in or near the active region; growing an upper mirror on the active region; etching a trench through the upper mirror to the oxide layer; exposing at least a portion of the oxide layer such that the exposed portion of the oxide layer oxidizes to create an electrical aperture; depositing a low index of refraction layer on the upper mirror; depositing a high index of refraction layer on the low index of refraction layer, the high index of refraction layer having an index of refraction that at least 0.3 greater than the index of refraction for the low index of refraction layer; and etching a grating above the electrical aperture, the grating extending at least partially into the high index of refraction layer, the grating configured to pin polarization of light emitted from the active region.
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Specification