Two-element phased array of antiguided vertical-cavity lasers

We demonstrate antiguided coupling of two adjacent vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), obtaining a 1x2 phase-locked array at 869 nm. The lateral index modification required for antiguiding is achieved by a patterned 3 nm etch performed between two epitaxial growths. In contrast with prior coupled VCSELs, adjacent antiguided VCSELs can emit in phase and produce a single on-axis lobe in the far field. Greater than 2 mW of in-phase output power is demonstrated with two VCSELs separated by 8 mu m. Moreover, phase locking of two VCSELs separated by 20 mu m is observed, indicating the possibility of a promising class of optical circuits based upon VCSELs that interact horizontally and emit vertically. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)04050-4].