title: Two-dimensional photonic band-Gap defect mode laser
abstract: A laser cavity formed from a single defect in a two-dimensional photonic crystal is demonstrated. The optical microcavity consists of a half wavelength-thick waveguide for vertical confinement and a two-dimensional photonic crystal mirror for lateral localization. A defect in the photonic crystal is introduced to trap photons inside a volume of 2.5 cubic half-wavelengths, approximately 0.03 cubic micrometers. The laser is fabricated in the indium gallium arsenic phosphide material system, and optical gain is provided by strained quantum wells designed for a peak emission wavelength of 1.55 micrometers at room temperature. Pulsed lasing action has been observed at a wavelength of 1.5 micrometers from optically pumped devices with a substrate temperature of 143 kelvin.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Painter
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yariv
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Dapkus
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kim