Abstract

Profiled reflectivity mirrors (PRM) used as . laser output couplers are capable of providing diffraction-limited beams of high energy in solid-state and CO₂ lasers.^1,2 Recent advances in fabrication techniques have permitted the design of a small size PRM which can be adapted to the output beam emitted from semiconductor lasers. We have investigated experimentally the lateral-mode behaviour of an AR-coated, double-heterostructure, gain-guided broad-area (BA) semiconductor laser coupled to an external PRM. The Gaussian reflectivity profile of the mirror has a width of 0.7 mm (at 1/e²) and a reflectivity of 62% at the center and decreases to zero at its edges.

© 1994 Optical Society of America