Semiconductor laser that generates second harmonic light with attached nonlinear crystal

A method of fabricating a vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor laser, the method comprising:

• epitaxially growing a first reflector on a substrate, the first reflector reflective of light at a desired fundamental frequency;
• epitaxially growing a semiconductor optical amplifier on the first reflector;
• attaching a nonlinear crystal to the amplifier;
• and
• depositing a second reflector on the nonlinear crystal, the second reflector reflective of light at the fundamental frequency but transmissive of light at twice the fundamental frequency, the first and second reflectors defining a laser cavity that extends from the first reflector through the amplifier and the nonlinear crystal to the second reflector.

A method of fabricating a vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor laser, the method comprising:

• epitaxially growing a semiconductor optical amplifier on a substrate;
• attaching a nonlinear crystal to the optical amplifier;
• etching an opening through the substrate to the semiconductor optical amplifier;
• depositing a first reflector in the opening adjacent the optical amplifier, the first reflector reflective of light at a desired fundamental frequency;
• and
• depositing a second reflector on the nonlinear crystal, the second reflector reflective of light at the fundamental frequency but transmissive of light at twice the fundamental frequency, the first and second reflectors defining a laser cavity that extends from the first reflector through the amplifier and the nonlinear crystal to the second reflector.

A method of fabricating an edge-emitting laser, the method comprising:

• epitaxially growing a semiconductor optical amplifier on a substrate;
• cleaving the amplifier and substrate on opposite ends to provide first and second facets;
• attaching a nonlinear crystal to the second facet;
• forming a first reflector on the first facet, the first reflector reflective of light at a desired fundamental frequency;
• and
• forming a second reflector on the nonlinear crystal, the second reflector reflective of light at the fundamental frequency but transmissive of light at twice the fundamental frequency, the first and second reflectors defining a laser cavity that extends from the first reflector through the amplifier and the nonlinear crystal to the second reflector.

A vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor laser comprising:

• a first reflector epitaxially formed on a substrate, the first reflector reflective of light at a desired fundamental frequency;
• an epitaxially-grown elongated semiconductor optical amplifier having first and second sides, the first side affixed to the first reflector;
• a nonlinear crystal affixed to the second side of the amplifier;
• and
• a second reflector affixed to the nonlinear crystal, the second reflector reflective of light at the fundamental frequency but transmissive of light at twice the fundamental frequency, the first and second reflectors defining a laser cavity that extends from the first reflector through the amplifier and the nonlinear crystal to the second reflector.

A vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor laser comprising:

• an elongated semiconductor optical amplifier epitaxially formed on a substrate;
• a first reflector affixed to a first side of the amplifier through an opening in the substrate, the first reflector reflective of light at a desired fundamental frequency;
• a nonlinear crystal affixed to a second side of the optical amplifier;
• and
• a second reflector affixed to the nonlinear crystal, the second reflector reflective of light at the fundamental frequency but transmissive of light at twice the fundamental frequency, the first and second reflectors defining a laser cavity that extends from the first reflector through the amplifier and the nonlinear crystal to the second reflector.

An edge-emitting laser comprising:

• a semiconductor optical amplifier epitaxially grown on a substrate and cleaved on opposite ends to provide first and second facets;
• a first reflector formed on the first face, the first reflector reflective of light at a desired fundamental frequency;
• a nonlinear crystal affixed to the second facet;
• a second reflector formed on the nonlinear crystal, the second reflector reflective of light at the fundamental frequency but transmissive of light at twice the fundamental frequency, the first and second reflectors defining a laser cavity that extends from the first reflector through the amplifier and the nonlinear crystal to the second reflector.