Photopumped laser operation of an oxide post GaAs-AlAs superlattice photonic lattice

Data are presented on the laser operation of photoexcited active hexagonal photonic lattices consisting of a GaAs-AlAs superlattice slab waveguide patterned with Zn-disordered AlGaAs posts that are converted to oxide. The semiconductor-oxide-post photonic lattice structure lases without the benefit of cleaved edges or other reflecting interfaces owing to strong local optical feedback provided by the high refractive index contrast between oxide posts and the active GaAs-AiAs superlattice. As the pump area is increased at constant pump power, the threshold intensity decreases as higher Q modes in an effectively larger cavity are excited, Similar hexagonal photonic lattices with nonoxidized posts (disordered AlGaAs posts) operate as lasers, but only with the assistance of cleaved edges and by shifting to longer wavelength. The oxide post photonic lattice is compatible with current-driven photonic lattice lasers or active filters. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.