Invention:
Researchers at the University of Arizona have designed a novel hybrid metal-semiconductor mirror for use with VECSELs. A novel method of deposition incorporating a patterned mask allows for the use of gold in conjunction with GaAs. The DBR thickness is reduced, as is the thermal impedance, resulting in high reflectivity and high gain.
Background:
Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) typically have low gain that requires a highly reflective mirror of at least 99.9% reflectivity to be attached to the gain medium. Most DBR mirrors used for this purpose have a large number of layered pairs of AlGaAs/AlA, and at longer wavelengths, the materials are changed to InP-based materials. They are still thick and thus have high thermal impedance.
Advantages:
- Reduced thermal impedance and higher gain
- Increased power efficiency
- Covers both the pump and the laser signal wavelengths
Applications:
- High powered VECSELs
- Spectroscopy
- Microwave and Terahertz photonics
- Medical imaging sources
Status: issued U.S. patent #11,283,241
