Abstract

A new type of diode-laser array that emits a near-diffraction-limited beam at drive currents up to 10 times threshold has recently been reported.¹ These devices, denoted leaky-mode arrays because of their tendency to lase on radiation modes, show great potential as high-power sources of focusable radiation. Realization of this potential, however, necessitates accurate modeling, which has so far proved difficult because of several problems. First, the use of the effective index method has been shown to be inaccurate for these arrays so that full two-dimensional (2D) waveguide modeling is necessary.² Second, the use of highly absorbing GaAs regions requires a fully complex calculation. Finally, the accurate simulation of radiation modes necessitates lateral boundary conditions that are totally absorbing; i.e., they reflect no radiation back into the problem region.

© 1990 Optical Society of America