Antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide-type, single-mode diode lasers

Antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW)-type diode lasers have been demonstrated for the first time. The ARROW structure is made in the lateral direction (i.e., the plane of the junction) by two-step metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Stable, diffraction-limited beam operation is achieved to 0.6 W peak pulsed power and 20× threshold. The power contained within the diffraction-limited beam pattern is 420 mW with 60% of the energy residing in the central, diffraction-limited lobe. Modal calculations for ARROW lasers confirm very strong intermodal discrimination. Theoretical calculations and preliminary experimental data show that up to 90% of the energy can be obtained in the central lobe (475 mW diffraction-limited power).