1.5 μm InP/GaInAsP linear laser array with twelve individually addressable elements

Linear arrays of twelve individually addressable InP/GaInAsP channelled-substrate buried-heterostructure lasers emitting at λ = 1.5 μm were fabricated. Spacing between active elements (250 μm) was made to match the fibre spacing in a 12-fibre ribbon. Individual arrays were epoxy bonded, p-side up to metallised BeO carriers. Best case uniformity of laser characteristics within an array is indicated by tight distributions of lasing threshold (9.8 ± 0.9 mA at 30°C) and output powers of (8.6 ± 0.4 mW at 100 mA). While no significant optical crosstalk could be detected, small increases (⋍ 10%) in device lasing thresholds were observed when two adjacent elements were operated CW simultaneously, probably due to the thermal impedance of the epoxy-bond employed and the resultant heating of operating nearest-neighbour devices. Such arrays offer the potential for reduced fibre alignment time per element thus reducing packaging costs per source. In addition, reduced space requirement per source is realised.