An apparatus is configured to operate in a single fundamental transverse mode and the apparatus includes a waveguide layer between an n-doped cladding layer and a p-doped cladding layer. The waveguide layer includes a first waveguide part, and an active layer located between the first waveguide part and the p-doped cladding layer, the active layer being asymmetrically within the waveguide layer closer to the p-doped cladding layer than the n-doped cladding layer. The refractive index of the n-doped cladding layer being equal to or larger than the p-doped cladding layer. A first end of the first waveguide part is adjacent to the n-doped cladding layer. A second end of the first waveguide part is adjacent to a first end of the active layer. A desired donor density is doped in the first waveguide part for controlling the carrier density dependent internal optical loss in the first waveguide part at high injection levels.

A corrected mesa structure for a VCSEL device is particularly configured to compensate for variations in the shape of the created oxide aperture that result from anisotropic oxidation. In particular, a corrected mesa shape is derived by determining the shape of an as-created aperture formed by oxidizing a circular mesa structure, and then ascertaining the compensation required to convert the as-created shape into a desired (“target”) shaped aperture opening. The compensation value is then used to modify the shape of the mesa itself such that a following anisotropic oxidation yields a target-shaped oxide aperture.

A vertical-cavity surface emitting laser includes a substrate, a first reflector, an active region, an oxide layer, a second reflector, and a circular metal electrode. The first reflector is formed above the substrate. The active region is formed above the first reflector, and includes at least one quantum well. The at least one quantum well generates a laser beam with a plurality of modes. The oxide layer is formed above the active region and includes an oxide aperture. The second reflector is formed above the oxide layer. The circular metal electrode is formed in a circular concave in the second reflector. The circular metal electrode reflects other modes of the laser beam with the plurality of modes except for a fundamental mode and receive an operational voltage. A window exists between the circular concave and lets the laser beam with the fundamental mode pass.

A surface-emitting semiconductor laser includes a first-conductivity-type layer, an active layer, and a second-conductivity-type layer. The active layer and the second-conductivity-type layer are electrically connected in a current constriction layer through an opening. The surface-emitting semiconductor laser further includes an insulating layer that has translucency with respect to an emission wavelength of the active layer, a first electrode electrically connected to the first-conductivity-type layer, and a second electrode electrically connected to the second-conductivity-type layer. In the surface-emitting semiconductor laser, a part of the insulating layer is exposed from the second electrode, and the insulating layer exposed from the second electrode includes a first portion that has a first thickness and a second portion that has a second thickness to make output of light emitted from the active layer smaller than the first portion in comparison with the first thickness and that surrounds the first portion.

A master oscillator power amplifier comprises a semiconductor laser formed on a substrate and configured to output an optical signal, and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) formed on the substrate. The SOA comprises an optical waveguide having an optically active region, wherein the optical waveguide is configured to expand a mode size of the optical signal along at least two dimensions.

A laser device (1) includes: a branch waveguide (23) configured to split light propagating from an optical amplifier (10) into a plurality of light beams and output the plurality of light beams; a multi-core waveguide (27) including a plurality of waveguide cores (24 to 26) configured to carry the plurality of light beams input from the branch waveguide (23); and a light reflector (31) optically coupled to a light input/output end of the multi-core waveguide (27). The waveguide cores (24 to 26) are configured to extend along the same direction, and placed in proximity to one another to enable optical coupling between adjacent waveguide cores of the waveguide cores (24 to 26).

Described herein is a two chip photonic device (e.g., a hybrid master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA)) where a gain region and optical amplifier region are formed on a III-V chip and a variable reflector (which in combination with the gain region forms a laser cavity) is formed on a different semiconductor chip that includes silicon, silicon nitride, lithium niobate, or the like. Sides of the two chips are disposed in a facing relationship so that optical signals can transfer between the gain region, the variable reflector, and the optical amplifier.

A topological laser system is described. The laser system comprises an array of optical elements arranged in an array and coupled between them such that the array is configured for supporting one or more topological modes. The plurality of optical elements comprises optical elements carrying gain material configured for emitting optical radiation in response to pumping energy. The laser system further comprises a pumping unit configured to provide pumping of a group of the optical elements of the array within at least a portion of the spatial region corresponding with said topological mode; and at least one output port optically coupled to one or more of the optical elements associated with said topological mode. The at least one output ports is configured for extracting a portion of light intensity from said laser system.

The present embodiment relates to a light-emitting device or the like having a structure capable of reducing one power of ±1st-order light with respect to the other power. The light-emitting device includes a substrate, a light-emitting portion, and a phase modulation layer including a base layer and a plurality of modified refractive index regions. Each of the plurality of modified refractive index regions has a three-dimensional shape defined by a first surface facing the substrate, a second surface positioned on a side opposite to the substrate with respect to the first surface, and a side surface. In the three-dimensional shape, at least one of the first surface, the second surface, and the side surface has a portion inclined with respect to a main surface.

A corrected mesa structure for a VCSEL device is particularly configured to compensate for variations in the shape of the created oxide aperture that result from anisotropic oxidation. In particular, a corrected mesa shape is derived by determining the shape of an as-created aperture formed by oxidizing a circular mesa structure, and then ascertaining the compensation required to convert the as-created shape into a desired (“target”) shaped aperture opening. The compensation value is then used to modify the shape of the mesa itself such that a following anisotropic oxidation yields a target-shaped oxide aperture.