Microdisk lasers vertically coupled to output waveguides

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Abstract
Semiconductor microdisk resonator lasers vertically coupled to bus waveguides are demonstrated for the first time. These structures have many of the characteristics required for a light source in photonic integrated circuits because they can be coupled to other optical elements (switches, routers, filters, etc.) through common bus lines. A continuous-wave single-mode laser at 1579 nm with a side-mode suppression ratio greater than 30 dB has been achieved for an 8-/spl mu/m-radius microdisk. For larger disks, mode competition between modes near the maximum gain wavelength is observed from the light output-current (L-I) characteristics. Improved heat sink design is required for future devices.