Mid-infrared optically pumped unstable resonator laser
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsAndrew Ongstad, Ron Kaspi, Greg Dente, Michael Tilton, Joseph R. Chavez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high-powered mid-IR antimonide-based unstable resonator semiconductor laser that is optically pumped. One Fabry-Perot facet is a mechanically polished cylindrical mirror that extends well into the GaSb substrate. The waveguide is designed to weakly confine the transverse optical mode, and the optical pump stripe width can be varied to optimize the cavity width for high brightness operation.
Claims4
A high-power unstable resonator semiconductor laser that is optically-pumped with an optical pump stripe width, said laser comprising
- an antimonide-based mid-infrared Fabry-Perot quantum well laser chip comprised of a GaSb substrate, an active region, an upper cladding, and a protective cap;
- a mechanically polished cylindrical mirror facet at one end of said Fabry-Perot chip, whereby an unstable resonator is produced;
- a waveguide in which the transverse optical mode is weakly confined;
- and
- a wide cavity width defined by said optical pump stripe width.
A high-power unstable resonator semiconductor laser that is optically-pumped with an optical pump stripe width, said laser comprising
- an antimonide-based mid-infrared Fabry-Perot quantum well laser chip comprised of a GaSb substrate, an active region, an upper cladding, and a protective cap;
- a mechanically polished cylindrical mirror facet at one end of said Fabry-Perot chip extending at least 10 microns into said GaSb substrate, whereby an unstable resonator is produced;
- a waveguide in which the transverse optical mode is weakly confined;
- and
- a wide cavity width defined by said optical pump stripe width that can be varied continuously between 100 microns and 1000 microns, whereby said laser can be optimized for high brightness operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.