Patent ID: 7160749
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: B82Y,H01S

Abstract:
1. A method for making a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser device for producing polarized light comprising the steps of: providing a substrate; forming a plurality of semiconductor layers on a surface of said substrate wherein one of said semiconductor layers comprises an active layer and another of said semiconductor layers comprises a current controlling layer having a first axis substantially orthogonal to a second axis in a plane substantially parallel to said surface of said substrate, said current controlling layer being penetrated by a plurality of non-conducting cavities; forming an asymmetric aperture region in said current controlling layer which controls current flowing through said active region, said asymmetric aperture region being defined by a conductive region in said current controlling layer bordered by non-conductive regions in said current controlling layer such that a first dimension of said conductive region along said first axis is less than a second dimension of said conductive region along said second axis to produce light polarized in a preferred direction, and wherein each of said non-conductive regions surrounds at least one of said plurality of non-conducting cavities; and forming first and second electrodes located on said laser device to enable biasing of said active region.