Surface-emitting photonic crystal distributed feedback laser systems and methods

摘要

A surface-emitting photonic crystal distributed feedback laser apparatus configured to emit an optical beam of light. The apparatus includes a laser cavity bounded by top and bottom optical claddings, an active region configured to produce optical gain upon receiving optical or electrical pumping, a periodic two-dimensional grating having an order higher than the fundamental and configured to induce modulation of a modal refractive index, and lateral pumped gain area contained within an area covered by the grating, the lateral pumped gain area configured to produce gain in one or more lasing modes having a modal index modulated by the grating. The lateral pumped gain area has a substantially circular shape of diameter D, and wherein the pumped gain area is enclosed by an unpumped region contained within the area covered by the grating but not receiving the optical or electrical pumping.