Abstract

Recently a novel circularly symmetric, surface-emitting distributed-feedback semiconductor laser has been proposed ^1,2 Potential advantages of this laser include the emission of a narrow, circularly symmetric beam with a single, stable wavelength and its direct application to high-power two-dimensional laser arrays. To date, this laser has only been examined theoretically. Previously, we described the operation of this laser in terms of the familiar coupled-mode formalism.² We predict its operation to be similar to that of the one-dimensional distributed-feedback laser, with the exception of more densely packed modes owing to the azimuthal dimension. Although we expect the major results of this analysis to be correct, it cannot accurately predict the intensity distribution in the circular laser because it ignores the dependence of gain and refractive index on intensity; this is especially true at the center, for which a very high intensity is predicted. In the present paper we consider the effects of this intensity dependence on the spatial variation of intensity in the laser. We also look at some details of fabrication of a working laser, including successfully fabricating second-order circular gratings and designing a laser with efficient current injection and surface light emission.

© 1990 Optical Society of America