GaSb-based photonic crystal coupled cavity lasers above 2.3 μm

Laser diodes emitting in the mid-infrared 2-2.7 μm range are of particular interest for spectroscopic applications and especially for trace gas detection due to the presence of strong absorption bands of several species [1] of pollutants. These applications require single-frequency, wavelength tunable lasers. In this perspective, we have studied designs made of two coupled cavities (C 2 ), coupled by an intracavity Photonic Crystal (PhC) mirror as proposed by Happ et al . [2]. The first devices of this type have recently been proposed on GaSb, emitting at 1.9 μm [4]. In this paper, we demonstrate the first coupled cavity (C 2 ) PhC devices operating above 2.3 μm.