Berlin 2008 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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DS: Fachverband Dünne Schichten

DS 10: Semiconductor Nanophotonics: Materials, Models, Devices - Novel Concepts

DS 10.1: Hauptvortrag

Montag, 25. Februar 2008, 17:30–18:00, H 2032

Nanotechnology based single-mode lasers for telecommunication and sensing — Martin Kamp, Sven Höfling, and •Alfred Forchel — Technische Physik, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg

High-performance single-mode lasers are key devices for optical communication, spectroscopy and sensing applications. For InP laser structures, the fabrication of single-mode devices using distributed feedback (DFB) gratings is a well established technology. However, the transfer of this technology to lasers with gain materials such as quantum dots, dilute nitrides or quantum cascade structures is not straightforward.

In this talk, we present several alternative approaches for the realization of single-mode lasers based on a single epitaxial step and subsequent nano-patterning. Several types of feedback gratings, e.g. lateral metal gratings, deeply etched sidewall gratings, top-surface gratings and distributed Bragg reflectors will be discussed. In all cases, the gratings can be defined without a second epitaxial step, leading to a greatly simplified fabrication process. Tunable single-mode lasers can be realized by the use of multiple segments with different gratings.

Another route towards single-mode devices is the use of photonic crystals, which can be used to tailor the mode structure of a semiconductor laser. Similar to the devices with gratings, tunability can be achieved by dividing the laser resonator in multiple segments. Photonic crystal based devices also allow the integration of additional functional elements, such as wavelength monitors.