ANALYSIS OF NONPLANAR WAVE-PROPAGATION THROUGH MULTILAYER BRAGG REFLECTORS FOR FOLDED CAVITY AND VERTICAL-CAVITY SURFACE-EMITTING LASER STRUCTURES

A theoretical approach to nonplanar wave propagation through Bragg ref lector multilayer structures is presented. The theory is applied to th e optical coupling and feedback in a folded cavity surface emitting la ser using a 45 degrees deflection mirror-epitaxial Bragg reflector arr angement. The effects of the nonplanar wave propagation on the Bragg m irror reflectivity in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers is also examined. Experimental verification of the theory is presented in a no vel folded cavity surface emitting laser structure integrating a horiz ontal cavity InGaAs-GaAs laser grown on a structured substrate with a high reflectivity Bragg reflector.