Wavelength-graded surface-emitting laser array with contradirectional surface-mode coupling

Summary form only. The wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) scheme is utilized to increase significantly the transmission rate of optical communication systems. Monolithic arrays of wavelength-graded laser diodes are considered as a compact choice for WDM light sources. Lasers in the visible regime are suitable to be used as emitters in optical short-range data transmission since the attenuation minimum of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) fibres lies near 650 nm. We have developed a wavelength-graded GaInP-AlGaInP surface-emitting laser array with horizontal cavities.