Efficiency of and intensity distribution in a semiconductor laser operating in the 'leaky' regime

The differential efficiency is calculated for a semiconductor laser having an optical waveguide with a wave leaking out into the substrate. The differ ential efficiency is shown to be close to the limit if the optical quality of the substrate (with losses similar to 1 cm(-1) or less) is sufficiently high and the remaining laser parameters have typical and attainable values. Optimisation of the parameters of such a laser makes it possible to increa se the output power severalfold compared with the power of a laser generati ng a conventional waveguide mode without radiation leakage.