Abstract: In one embodiment, a VCSEL includes a plurality of semiconductor layers, an insulative region, a resistive region, and a remainder region. The semiconductor layers include a lower mirror, an active region, and an upper mirror. The active region is disposed over the lower mirror and includes a first lasing region. The upper mirror is disposed over the active region. The insulative region and the resistive region are integrally formed in the semiconductor layers. The remainder region includes the semiconductor layers except for the insulative region and the resistive region integrally formed in the semiconductor layers. The insulative region is disposed between the resistive region and the remainder region.

Abstract: A VCSEL includes a substrate having a partially removed portion; a metal-assisted DBR having a metal layer and a first mirror stack, wherein the metal layer is located at the partially removed portion of the substrate; an active region having a plurality of quantum wells over the metal-assisted DBR; and a second mirror stack over the active region, wherein a number of alternating layers of the first mirror stack is substantially smaller than a number typically required for a VCSEL without the integrated metal reflector. Such a metal-assisted DBR is especially useful for a long-wavelength VCSEL on a InP substrate or a red-color VCSEL on a GaAs substrate.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser having a dielectric gain guide. The gain guide may provide current confinement, device isolation and possibly optical confinement. The first mirror and an active region may be grown. A pattern may be placed on or near the active region. A dielectric material may be deposited on the pattern and the pattern may be removed resulting in a gain guide. Then a top mirror may be grown on the gain guide. This structure with the dielectric gain guide may have specific characteristics and/or additional features.

Abstract: A long wavelength vertical cavity surface emitting laser having a substrate, a first mirror situated on the substrate, an active region situated on the first mirror, a second mirror situated on the active region. The first mirror may have several pairs of layers with an oxidized layer in one or more pairs of that mirror. The substrate may include InP and the mirror components may be compatible with the InP. The one or more layers in the first mirror may be oxidized via a trench-like approach or other arrangement.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser with a mode-selective mirror. A filter is formed on the top DBR stack of a VCSEL. The filter includes semiconductor layers that are etch stops for immediately superior layers. The filter is selectively etched to create a first region that is phase matched to the top DBR stack and a second region that is phase mismatched to the top DBR stack. The second region inhibits undesired modes and provides additional absorption for the undesired modes. The first region is formed using a wet-etch process whose etch depth is controlled because the semiconductor layers are etch stops for immediately superior layers.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser having a dielectric gain guide. The gain guide may provide current confinement, device isolation and possibly optical confinement. The first mirror and an active region may be grown. A pattern may be placed on or near the active region. A dielectric material may be deposited on the pattern and the pattern may be removed resulting in a gain guide. Then a top mirror may be grown on the gain guide. This structure with the dielectric gain guide may have specific characteristics and/or additional features.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) structure includes a bottom distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) arranged over a substrate; a metal layer interposed between the bottom DBR and the substrate, wherein the metal layer and bottom DBR form a composite mirror structure. A patterned dielectric layer may be interposed between the metal layer and the bottom DBR to reduce a deleterious chemical reaction between the metal layer and the bottom DBR. The metal layer directly contacts a portion of the bottom DBR to enhance the electrical and thermal conductivity of the VCSEL structure.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser having a dielectric gain guide. The gain guide may provide current confinement, device isolation and possibly optical confinement. The first mirror and an active region may be grown. A pattern may be placed on or near the active region. A dielectric material may be deposited on the pattern and the pattern may be removed resulting in a gain guide. Then a top mirror may be grown on the gain guide. This structure with the dielectric gain guide may have specific characteristics and/or additional features.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser having an oxidizable layer oxidized with enhanced lateral oxidation. The oxidation may involve adding oxygen in the form of a fluid, with or without other fluid such as water vapor, in the oxidizing environment, and/or in the layer to be oxidized. This oxidation approach may be used for layers with relatively low aluminum content such as in InP based structures, or with high aluminum content such as in GaAs based structures.

Abstract: A process for making a laser structure. The process is for the fabrication of a laser device such a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). The structures made involve dielectric and spin-on material planarization over wide and narrow trenches, coplanar contacts, non-coplanar contacts, thick and thin pad dielectric, air bridges and wafer thinning.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser with a mode-selective mirror. A filter is formed on the top DBR stack of a VCSEL. The filter includes semiconductor layers that are etch stops for immediately superior layers. The filter is selectively etched to create a first region that is phase matched to the top DBR stack and a second region that is phase mismatched to the top DBR stack. The second region inhibits undesired modes and provides additional absorption for the undesired modes. The first region is formed using a wet-etch process whose etch depth is controlled because the semiconductor layers are etch stops for immediately superior layers.

Abstract: A VCSEL includes a substrate having a partially removed portion; a metal-assisted DBR having a metal layer and a first mirror stack, wherein the metal layer is located at the partially removed portion of the substrate; an active region having a plurality of quantum wells over the metal-assisted DBR; and a second mirror stack over the active region, wherein a number of alternating layers of the first mirror stack is substantially smaller than a number typically required for a VCSEL without the integrated metal reflector. Such a metal-assisted DBR is especially useful for a long-wavelength VCSEL on a InP substrate or a red-color VCSEL on a GaAs substrate.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) structure includes a bottom distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) arranged over a substrate; a metal layer interposed between the bottom DBR and the substrate, wherein the metal layer and bottom DBR form a composite mirror structure. A patterned dielectric layer may be interposed between the metal layer and the bottom DBR to reduce a deleterious chemical reaction between the metal layer and the bottom DBR.

Abstract: A current confinement layer of a VCSEL is formed by adjusting flow rates of In-, Al-, and As-containing precursors introduced within a deposition chamber. By maintaining a low ratio between the flow rate of the As-containing precursors and the total flow rate of In- and Al-containing precursors (e.g., less than 25, 10, 5, or 1), a current confinement layer, lattice matched to InP and having an enhanced oxidation rate, may be formed.

Abstract: A process for making a laser structure. The process is for the fabrication of a laser device such a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). The structures made involve dielectric and spin-on material planarization over wide and narrow trenches, coplanar contacts, non-coplanar contacts, thick and thin pad dielectric, air bridges and wafer thinning.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser having a dielectric gain guide. The gain guide may provide current confinement, device isolation and possibly optical confinement. The first mirror and an active region may be grown. A pattern may be placed on or near the active region. A dielectric material may be deposited on the pattern and the pattern may be removed resulting in a gain guide. Then a top mirror may be grown on the gain guide. This structure with the dielectric gain guide may have specific characteristics and/or additional features.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser having an oxidizable layer oxidized with enhanced lateral oxidation. The oxidation may involve adding oxygen in the form of a fluid, with or without other fluid such as water vapor, in the oxidizing environment, and/or in the layer to be oxidized. This oxidation approach may be used for layers with relatively low aluminum content such as in InP based structures, or with high aluminum content such as in GaAs based structures.

Abstract: A long wavelength vertical cavity surface emitting laser having a substrate, a first mirror situated on the substrate, an active region situated on the first mirror, a second mirror situated on the active region. The first mirror may have several pairs of layers with an oxidized layer in one or more pairs of that mirror. The substrate may include InP and the mirror components may be compatible with the InP. The one or more layers in the first mirror may be oxidized via a trench-like approach or other arrangement.