title: Supermode analysis of phase-locked arrays of semiconductor lasers.
abstract: The optical characteristics of phase-locked semiconductor laser arrays are formulated in terms of the array supermodes, which are the eigenmodes of the composite-array waveguide, by using coupled-mode theory. These supermodes are employed to calculate the near fields, the far fields, and the difference in the longitudinal-mode oscillation wavelengths of the array. It is shown that the broadening in the far-field beam divergence, as well as the broadening of each of the longitudinal modes that were observed in phase-locked arrays, may arise from the excitation of an increasing number of supermodes at increasing pumping levels.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kapon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yariv