Self-aligned nanoisland-array photonic bandedge laser

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate a novel photonic crystal (PhC) bandedge laser constituted by self-aligned nanoisland quantum-well (QW) structures. The formation of self-aligned InGaAsP nanoislands sandwiched between two InP claddings is the result of selective removal of QW through wet-etching processes. By controlling wet-etching time, we show a good spatial and spectral overlap between the dielectric mode and the self-aligned nanoisland structures leads to the realization of PhC bandedge lasers with low-threshold operations and high slope efficiencies. Optical characterization results indicate a strong correlation between the size of individual nanoisland and the threshold power of our bandedge lasers. We show significant reduction in the absorbed threshold power as we optimize the size of the nanoislands.