SBIR Phase I: Next Generation Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目建议使用一种新的设计和制造方法，该方法将使垂直腔面发射激光器(VCSEL)走出目前的利基应用，并将为其在当前边缘发射激光器的广泛使用开辟道路。这些垂直腔面发射激光器可以设计在覆盖近红外和接近中红外(800纳米到2500纳米)的广泛波长范围内。这些垂直腔面发射激光器的窄线宽和稳定的线偏振特性使其适合用于光谱学、通信和固体激光泵浦。实现这一点的原因是衬底的灵活性与用于单模线偏振输出的特殊高对比度光栅(HCG)镜相结合。通过极低的电阻和高效的散热，实现了高效率和高输出功率。第一个原型的发射波长将为1550 nm，目标是在长途光纤中提供更紧凑、更低成本的DFB激光器替代方案。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力扩展到光纤通信、光谱和高功率固态激光器领域。本项目将开发的下一代垂直腔面发射激光器将具有分布式反馈(DFB)激光器的单模和窄线宽，以及在任何近红外波长下的垂直腔面发射激光器的光束质量和低成本。通信系统中特别感兴趣的是降低每比特成本和每比特传输数据的功率消耗。与现有的基于边缘发射器的解决方案相比，在光纤收发器中实施建议的VCSEL可降低成本和降低功耗。降低功耗进而导致小型化和高密度组装，从而进一步降低成本。长波长VCSEL要满足的特别具有挑战性的要求是高光输出功率和窄线宽。所提出的方法使这些垂直腔面发射激光器既能满足这些要求，又能成为一种有吸引力的候选器件，不仅可用于光纤通信，还可用作高功率固体激光器的泵浦源。此外，由于缺乏波长限制，这些器件成为近红外泛音光谱的理想光源。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to use a novel design and fabrication approach that will bring Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) out of their current niche applications and will open the way to their widespread use where currently edge emitting lasers are utilized. These VCSELs can be designed over a broad range of wavelengths covering near-infrared and approaching mid infrared (800nm to 2,500nm). The narrow linewidth and stable linear polarization of these VCSELs make them suitable for use in spectroscopy, communications and solid state laser pumping. What makes this possible is substrate flexibility combined with a special High Contrast Grating (HCG) mirror used for single-mode linearly polarized output. High efficiency and high output power are achieved by very low electrical resistance and efficient heat sinking. The first prototype will have an emission wavelength of 1550nm with the goal of offering a more compact and lower cost alternative to DFB lasers in long-haul fiber optics.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project extends to the fields of fiber communication, spectroscopy, and high power solid state lasers. Next generation VCSELs to be developed in this project will have the single mode and narrow linewidth of a Distributed Feedback (DFB) laser and the beam quality and low cost of a VCSEL at any near infrared wavelength. Of particular interest in communication systems are the reduction of cost per bit, and power consumption per bit of transmitted data. Implementing the proposed VCSELs in fiber optic transceivers results in reduced cost and reduced power consumption over existing edge emitter based solutions. Reducing power consumption in turn leads to miniaturization and high density assembly, which further reduces the cost. Particularly challenging requirements for long wavelength VCSELs to meet are high optical output power and narrow linewidth. The proposed approach makes possible for these VCSELs to meet both of these requirements and to become an attractive candidate not only for fiber communications, but also for use as pump sources for high power solid state lasers. Furthermore, the lack of wavelength constraints makes these devices ideal as sources for overtone spectroscopy in the near infrared.