Patent ID: 7991034
Filing Date: 2011-08-02
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor zigzag external cavity surface emitting optical apparatus, comprising: a chip including at least two regenerative gain elements disposed proximate a planar layer boundary of the chip; wherein the regenerative gain elements include an electrically pumped gain region to provide gain to an optical mode of the apparatus and at least one reflector; the chip including a substrate layer region including at least one layer, the substrate layer region being substantially transparent at a wavelength of a optical mode with the substrate region including a reflective surface parallel to and spaced apart from the planar layer boundary associated with the at least two regenerative gain elements; at least one optical entrance/exit surface region of the chip to couple light into the chip in a zigzag path via a sequence of reflections between the reflective surface of the substrate region and the reflectors, the regenerative gain elements; at least one external optical element to form an external cavity providing optical feedback back into the chip and to control transverse optical mode characteristics of the optical mode.