Abstract

Distributed feedback surface-emitting lasers are a very important component in monolithic master-oscillator power amplifier lasers and in monolithic optical interconnects that require sources with electronic beam steering capability. In this paper, we report an improved grating-coupled surface-emitting feedback laser design with a threshold of less than 4 mA, and a corresponding threshold current density of less than 160 A/cm². This is the lowest threshold current reported to date for any grating-coupled surface-emitting laser, and it represents more than a factor of 2 improvement over the previous reported lowest threshold.¹

© 1993 Optical Society of America