PLANAR SINGLE-FACET TEARDROP-SHAPED ALXGA1-XAS-GAAS QUANTUM-WELL HETEROSTRUCTURE LASER

Data are presented demonstrating the laser operation of an AlxGa1-xAs- GaAs quantum well heterostructure (QWH) crystal patterned into a smoot hly curved folded resonator, a ''teardrop''-shaped resonator, with a s ingle output facet. A deep AlxGa1-xAs native oxide formed entirely thr ough the top confining layer is utilized to produce a large effective index step for lateral optical confinement. The teardrop-shaped laser operates primarily in a TM (transverse magnetic) longitudinal mode pol arized with a TM/TE (transverse electric) power ratio of 7 : 1. Contin uous wave 300 K threshold currents as low as approximately 127 mA, ext ernal differential quantum efficiencies of eta approximately 15 %, and total output power in excess of 7 5 mW (uncoated facet) are achieved.