Patent ID: 8451874
Filing Date: 2013-05-28
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A very large mode (VLM) slab-coupled optical waveguide laser (SCOWL) comprising: an upper waveguide region for guiding a laser mode, said upper waveguide region being positioned in the interior regions of the VLM SCOWL, wherein a plurality of trench structures lined with dielectric layers are formed in said upper waveguide region, said trench structures form ridge waveguide structures; a lower waveguide region for guiding said laser mode, said lower waveguide region being positioned in an area underneath said upper waveguide region; an active region positioned between said upper waveguide region and said lower waveguide region, said active region is arranged so etching into the VLM SCOWL is permitted to define the ridge waveguide structures leaving said active region unetched; and one or more mode control barrier layers positioned adjacent to said active region, said one or more mode control barrier layers controlling the vertical mode profile of the fundamental mode and preventing mode collapse of the fundamental laser mode and blocking carrier leakage from said active region, said one or more control barrier layers are chosen to have a lower index then said upper waveguide region and lower waveguide region, wherein the largest fraction of a single mode is positioned in said lower waveguide region, and wherein the height of said ridge waveguide structure is arranged so as to maintain the single mode.