Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Robin K Huang

Joseph P Donnelly

Reuel P Swint

A slab-coupled optical waveguide laser (SCOWL) is provided that includes an upper and lower waveguide region for guiding a laser mode. The upper waveguide region is positioned in the interior regions of the SCOWL. The lower waveguide region also guides the laser mode. The lower waveguide region is positioned in an area underneath the upper waveguide region. An active region is positioned between the upper waveguide region and the lower waveguide region. The active region is arranged so etching into the SCOWL is permitted to define one or more ridge structures leaving the active region unetched.

High efficiency slab-coupled optical waveguide laser and amplifier

A very large mode (VLM) slab-coupled optical waveguide laser (SCOWL) is provided that includes an upper waveguide region as part of the waveguide for guiding the laser mode. The upper waveguide region is positioned in the interior regions of the VLM SCOWL. A lower waveguide region also is part of the waveguide that guides the laser mode. The lower waveguide region is positioned in an area underneath the upper waveguide region. An active region is positioned between the upper waveguide region and the lower waveguide region. The active region is arranged so etching into the VLM SCOWL is permitted to define one or more ridge structures leaving the active region unetched. One or more mode control barrier layers are positioned between said upper waveguide region and said lower waveguide region. The one or more mode control barrier layers control the fundamental mode profile and prevent mode collapse of the laser mode. The mode control barrier layers also block carrier leakage from the active region. These layers are essential to obtaining VLM SCOWLs.

Growing community of inventors

N. Billerica, MA, United States of America

Robin K Huang