TY - JOUR
T1 - Gain coupling of class A semiconductor lasers
AU - Hessenius, Chris
AU - Terry, Nathan
AU - Fallahi, Mahmoud
AU - Moloney, Jerome
AU - Bedford, Robert
PY - 2010/9/16
Y1 - 2010/9/16
N2 - We report on the development of a gain-coupled class A semiconductor laser for dual-wavelength generation via optical switching. A vertical external cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL) structure is used, because it provides a flexible platform for high-power, high-brightness output in the near-IR and visible ranges. For the first time (to our knowledge), two VECSEL cavities sharing a common gain region are studied. Because the cavities are in competition for common carriers, biréfringent filters in the external cavity control the laser cavity thresholds; this configuration demonstrates the possibility of switching between the two cavities, which can operate at different wavelengths. However, in this Letter we also show, numerically and experimentally, that with the consideration of spontaneous emission, it is possible to maintain simultaneous lasing in each cavity at a different wavelength.
AB - We report on the development of a gain-coupled class A semiconductor laser for dual-wavelength generation via optical switching. A vertical external cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL) structure is used, because it provides a flexible platform for high-power, high-brightness output in the near-IR and visible ranges. For the first time (to our knowledge), two VECSEL cavities sharing a common gain region are studied. Because the cavities are in competition for common carriers, biréfringent filters in the external cavity control the laser cavity thresholds; this configuration demonstrates the possibility of switching between the two cavities, which can operate at different wavelengths. However, in this Letter we also show, numerically and experimentally, that with the consideration of spontaneous emission, it is possible to maintain simultaneous lasing in each cavity at a different wavelength.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956702659&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77956702659&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1364/OL.35.003060
DO - 10.1364/OL.35.003060
M3 - Article
C2 - 20847778
AN - SCOPUS:77956702659
SN - 0146-9592
VL - 35
SP - 3060
EP - 3062
JO - Optics letters
JF - Optics letters
IS - 18
ER -