Optically pumped GaAs lasers with acoustic distributed feedback

Experiments on a two-dimensional acoustic distributed feedback (ADFB) laser are described. A set of distributed Bragg reflectors (DBR’s) were formed on a GaAs crystal which was optically pumped at liquid-nitrogen temperature and an surface acoustic wave (SAW) at a frequency around 1.2 GHz was injected into the planar region between the DBR’s. We observed the oscillation of the two-dimensional ADFB modes. The SAW power, needed for the onset of the oscillation of the modes, was about 5 mW under the present experimental condition. Some discussions on its applications are briefly described.