Tunable VCSEL with ultra-thin high contrast grating for high-speed tuning
Optics Express, Vol. 16, Issue 18, pp. 14221-14226 (2008)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.16.014221
Acrobat PDF (756 KB)
Abstract
We report a nano-electromechanical optoelectronic (NEMO) tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) with an ultra-thin (145 nm) electrostatically actuated high-index-contrast subwavelength grating (HCG) designed to strongly reflect TE-polarized light. Single mode emission (SMSR >45 dB) and continuous wavelength tuning (~4 nm) were obtained at room temperature with output power up to 2 mW under continuous wave (CW) operation. A record short wavelength tuning time (~90 ns) is experimentally demonstrated, which is >100 times faster than previously reported DBR-based tunable VCSELs and a 1.7 times improvement over the previously reported TM polarized NEMO tunable VCSELs.
© 2008 Optical Society of America
1. Introduction
C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Tunable VCSEL,” IEEE J. Select. Top. Quantum Electron. 6, 978–987 (2000). [CrossRef]
M. S. Wu, E. C. Vail, G. S. Li, W. Yuen, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Tunable Micromachined vertical cavity surface emitting laser,” Electron. Lett. 31, 1671–1672 (1995) [CrossRef]
C. F. R. Mateus, M. C. Y. Huang, C. J. Chang-Hasnain, J. E. Foley, R. Beatty, P. Li, and B. T. Cunningham, “Ultra-sensitive immunoassay using VCSEL detection system,” Electron. Lett. 40, 649–651 (2004). [CrossRef]
M. Lackner, M. Schwarzott, F. Winter, B. Kogel, S. Jatta, H. Halbritter, and P. Meissner, “CO and CO2 spectroscopy using a 60 nm broadband tunable MEMS-VCSEL at 1.55µm,” Opt. Lett. 31, 3170–3172 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
S. Decai, W. Fan, P. Kner, J. Boucart, T. Kageyama, Z. Dongxu, R. Pathak, R. F. Nabiev, and W. Yuen, “Long wavelength-tunable VCSELs with optimized MEMS bridge tuning structure,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 16, 714–716 (2004). [CrossRef]
C. F. R. Mateus, M. C. Y. Huang, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Micromechanical tunable optical filters: general design rules for wavelengths from near-IR up to 10µm,” Sens. Actuators A 119, 57–62 (2005). [CrossRef]
C. F. R. Mateus, M. C. Y. Huang, D. Yunfei, A. R. Neureuther, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Ultrabroadband mirror using low-index cladded subwavelength grating,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 16, 518–520 (2004). [CrossRef]
M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “A surface-emitting laser incorporating a high-index-contrast subwavelength grating,” Nat. Photonics 1, 119–122 (2007). [CrossRef]
S. Boutami, B. Benbakir, J. L. Leclercq, and P. Viktorovitch, “Compact and polarization controlled 1.55 µm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser using single-layer photonic crystal mirror,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 071105 (2007). [CrossRef]
M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “A nanoelectromechanical tunable laser,” Nat. Photonics 2, 180–184 (2008). [CrossRef]
M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Nano electro-mechanical optoelectronic tunable VCSEL,” Opt. Express 15, 1222–1227 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “A nanoelectromechanical tunable laser,” Nat. Photonics 2, 180–184 (2008). [CrossRef]
2. Design
J. Gustavsson, Å. Haglund, J. Vukušić, J. Bengtsson, P. Jedrasik, and A. Larsson, “Efficient and individually controllable mechanisms for mode and polarization selection in VCSELs, based on a common, localized, sub-wavelength surface grating,” Opt. Express 13, 6626–6634 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Y. Zhou, M. C. Y. Huang, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Large fabrication tolerance for VCSELs using high-contrast grating,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 20, 434–436 (2008). [CrossRef]
M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “A surface-emitting laser incorporating a high-index-contrast subwavelength grating,” Nat. Photonics 1, 119–122 (2007). [CrossRef]
M. G. Moharam and T. K. Gaylord, “Rigorous coupled-wave analysis of planar-grating diffraction,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. 71, 811–818 (1981). [CrossRef]
M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Nano electro-mechanical optoelectronic tunable VCSEL,” Opt. Express 15, 1222–1227 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “A nanoelectromechanical tunable laser,” Nat. Photonics 2, 180–184 (2008). [CrossRef]
Y. Zhou, M. C. Y. Huang, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Large fabrication tolerance for VCSELs using high-contrast grating,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 20, 434–436 (2008). [CrossRef]
3. Results
M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “A nanoelectromechanical tunable laser,” Nat. Photonics 2, 180–184 (2008). [CrossRef]
M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “A nanoelectromechanical tunable laser,” Nat. Photonics 2, 180–184 (2008). [CrossRef]
4. Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References and Links
C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Tunable VCSEL,” IEEE J. Select. Top. Quantum Electron. 6, 978–987 (2000). [CrossRef] | |
M. S. Wu, E. C. Vail, G. S. Li, W. Yuen, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Tunable Micromachined vertical cavity surface emitting laser,” Electron. Lett. 31, 1671–1672 (1995) [CrossRef] | |
C. F. R. Mateus, M. C. Y. Huang, C. J. Chang-Hasnain, J. E. Foley, R. Beatty, P. Li, and B. T. Cunningham, “Ultra-sensitive immunoassay using VCSEL detection system,” Electron. Lett. 40, 649–651 (2004). [CrossRef] | |
M. Lackner, M. Schwarzott, F. Winter, B. Kogel, S. Jatta, H. Halbritter, and P. Meissner, “CO and CO2 spectroscopy using a 60 nm broadband tunable MEMS-VCSEL at 1.55µm,” Opt. Lett. 31, 3170–3172 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
S. Decai, W. Fan, P. Kner, J. Boucart, T. Kageyama, Z. Dongxu, R. Pathak, R. F. Nabiev, and W. Yuen, “Long wavelength-tunable VCSELs with optimized MEMS bridge tuning structure,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 16, 714–716 (2004). [CrossRef] | |
F. Riemenschneider, M. Maute, H. Halbritter, G. Boehm, M. C. Amann, and P. Meissner, “Continuously tunable long-wavelength MEMS-VCSEL with over 40-nm tuning range,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 16, 2212–2214 (2004). [CrossRef] | |
M. C. Y. Huang, K. B. Cheng, Y. Zhou, B. Pesala, C. J. Chang-Hasnain, and A. P. Pisano, “Demonstration of piezoelectric actuated GaAs-based MEMS tunable VCSEL,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 18, 1197–1199 (2006). [CrossRef] | |
C. F. R. Mateus, M. C. Y. Huang, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Micromechanical tunable optical filters: general design rules for wavelengths from near-IR up to 10µm,” Sens. Actuators A 119, 57–62 (2005). [CrossRef] | |
C. F. R. Mateus, M. C. Y. Huang, D. Yunfei, A. R. Neureuther, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Ultrabroadband mirror using low-index cladded subwavelength grating,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 16, 518–520 (2004). [CrossRef] | |
M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “A surface-emitting laser incorporating a high-index-contrast subwavelength grating,” Nat. Photonics 1, 119–122 (2007). [CrossRef] | |
S. Boutami, B. Benbakir, J. L. Leclercq, and P. Viktorovitch, “Compact and polarization controlled 1.55 µm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser using single-layer photonic crystal mirror,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 071105 (2007). [CrossRef] | |
M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “A nanoelectromechanical tunable laser,” Nat. Photonics 2, 180–184 (2008). [CrossRef] | |
M. Amann, “Semiconductor lasers: Tuning triumph,” Nat. Photonics 2, 134–135 (2008). [CrossRef] | |
M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Nano electro-mechanical optoelectronic tunable VCSEL,” Opt. Express 15, 1222–1227 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
J. Gustavsson, Å. Haglund, J. Vukušić, J. Bengtsson, P. Jedrasik, and A. Larsson, “Efficient and individually controllable mechanisms for mode and polarization selection in VCSELs, based on a common, localized, sub-wavelength surface grating,” Opt. Express 13, 6626–6634 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
Y. Zhou, M. C. Y. Huang, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, “Large fabrication tolerance for VCSELs using high-contrast grating,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 20, 434–436 (2008). [CrossRef] | |
M. G. Moharam and T. K. Gaylord, “Rigorous coupled-wave analysis of planar-grating diffraction,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. 71, 811–818 (1981). [CrossRef] |
OCIS Codes
(140.3600) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, tunable
(250.7260) Optoelectronics : Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers
ToC Category:
Optoelectronics
History
Original Manuscript: June 19, 2008
Revised Manuscript: August 7, 2008
Manuscript Accepted: August 21, 2008
Published: August 27, 2008
Citation
Ye Zhou, Michael C. Huang, and Connie J. Chang-Hasnain, "Tunable VCSEL with ultra-thin high contrast grating for high-speed tuning," Opt. Express 16, 14221-14226 (2008)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-16-18-14221
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References
- C. J. Chang-Hasnain, "Tunable VCSEL," IEEE J. Select. Top. Quantum Electron. 6, 978-987 (2000). [CrossRef]
- M. S. Wu, E. C. Vail, G. S. Li, W. Yuen, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, "Tunable Micromachined vertical cavity surface emitting laser," Electron. Lett. 31, 1671-1672 (1995) [CrossRef]
- C. F. R. Mateus, M. C. Y. Huang, C. J. Chang-Hasnain, J. E. Foley, R. Beatty, P. Li, and B. T. Cunningham, "Ultra-sensitive immunoassay using VCSEL detection system," Electron. Lett. 40, 649-651 (2004). [CrossRef]
- M. Lackner, M. Schwarzott, F. Winter, B. Kogel, S. Jatta, H. Halbritter, and P. Meissner, "CO and CO2 spectroscopy using a 60 nm broadband tunable MEMS-VCSEL at 1.55µm," Opt. Lett. 31, 3170-3172 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- S. Decai, W. Fan, P. Kner, J. Boucart, T. Kageyama, Z. Dongxu, R. Pathak, R. F. Nabiev, and W. Yuen, "Long wavelength-tunable VCSELs with optimized MEMS bridge tuning structure," IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 16, 714-716 (2004). [CrossRef]
- F. Riemenschneider, M. Maute, H. Halbritter, G. Boehm, M. C. Amann, and P. Meissner, "Continuously tunable long-wavelength MEMS-VCSEL with over 40-nm tuning range," IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 16, 2212-2214 (2004). [CrossRef]
- M. C. Y. Huang, K. B. Cheng, Y. Zhou, B. Pesala, C. J. Chang-Hasnain, and A. P. Pisano, "Demonstration of piezoelectric actuated GaAs-based MEMS tunable VCSEL," IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 18, 1197-1199 (2006). [CrossRef]
- C. F. R. Mateus, M. C. Y. Huang, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, "Micromechanical tunable optical filters: general design rules for wavelengths from near-IR up to 10µm," Sens. Actuators A 119, 57-62 (2005). [CrossRef]
- C. F. R. Mateus, M. C. Y. Huang, D. Yunfei, A. R. Neureuther, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, "Ultrabroadband mirror using low-index cladded subwavelength grating," IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 16, 518-520 (2004). [CrossRef]
- M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, "A surface-emitting laser incorporating a high-index-contrast subwavelength grating," Nature Photon. 1, 119-122 (2007). [CrossRef]
- S. Boutami, B. Benbakir, J. L. Leclercq, and P. Viktorovitch, "Compact and polarization controlled 1.55 µm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser using single-layer photonic crystal mirror," Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 071105 (2007). [CrossRef]
- M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, "A nanoelectromechanical tunable laser," Nature Photon. 2, 180-184 (2008). [CrossRef]
- M. Amann, "Semiconductor lasers: Tuning triumph," Nature Photon. 2, 134-135 (2008). [CrossRef]
- M. C. Y. Huang, Y. Zhou, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, "Nano electro-mechanical optoelectronic tunable VCSEL," Opt. Express 15, 1222-1227 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- J. Gustavsson, �?. Haglund, J. Vukuši�?, J. Bengtsson, P. Jedrasik, and A. Larsson, "Efficient and individually controllable mechanisms for mode and polarization selection in VCSELs, based on a common, localized, sub-wavelength surface grating," Opt. Express 13, 6626-6634 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Y. Zhou, M. C. Y. Huang, and C. J. Chang-Hasnain, "Large fabrication tolerance for VCSELs using high-contrast grating," IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 20, 434-436 (2008). [CrossRef]
- M. G. Moharam and T. K. Gaylord, "Rigorous coupled-wave analysis of planar-grating diffraction," J. Opt. Soc. Am. 71, 811-818 (1981). [CrossRef]
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