Abstract

Monolithic integration of semiconductor optical devices requires the development of laser sources with feedback mechanisms other than cleaved cavities and with little influence of the output termination on the lasing action. We have been looking into both circular and polygonal ring resonant waveguide structures to be used as laser cavities, where the need for high quality mirrors is eliminated [1,2]. A variety of ring configurations, between 10 and 100μm in diameter have been succesfully formed in GaAs/GaAlAs material, coupled to the output stripe waveguides either directionally or via a Y–junction. Both ring and output waveguides needed pumping. A rib waveguide configuration was chosen to maximise light confinement and minimize bending loss at small cavity circumferences [3,4] (fig.1). Some of the structures use stress– and carrier confinement on the inner side of the ring.

© 1988 Optical Society of America