Analysis of TM-polarized DFB laser structures with metal surface gratings

An analysis of distributed feedback (DFB) laser structures with metallized surface grating structures in TM polarization is presented. The modal properties of these structures are described using coupled-mode theory where the coupling coefficients are derived from rigorously computed on-resonant Floquet-Bloch solutions of the waveguide grating problem. Based on this theory, first- and second-order DFB quantum cascade laser structures operating at a wavelength of 10 /spl mu/m are investigated numerically. We show that, utilizing a metal stripe grating structure, second-order laser structures are feasible showing efficient surface emission, whereas radiation into the substrate is strongly suppressed. The fraction of stimulated emission power being emitted via the surface can be as high as 17.5% whereas a low threshold gain of 20 cm/sup -1/ is maintained.