Photopumped laser operation of a planar disorder‐ and native‐oxide‐defined AlAs–GaAs photonic lattice

Data are presented demonstrating photopumped laser operation of a planar photonic lattice (∼1 μm thick) that is comprised of 9 μm disks with 2 μm separation arranged in a two‐dimensional hexagonal close‐packed pattern. The active region of each disk is an AlAs (70 A)–GaAs (30 A) superlattice (100 periods). The disks are defined by impurity‐induced layer disordering, followed by wet oxidation (N2+H2O vapor, 400  °C), which surrounds each disk with a low‐refractive‐index AlGaAs native oxide. The photonic lattice exhibits laser operation within wide (Δλ∼17 A) spectral bands that are spaced according to the disk modes, and that propagate light anisotropically in the plane of the lattice. In addition to the extended lattice, groups of seven disks are studied and are seen to display similar behavior.