Date of Award

12-1992

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

Department

Department of Engineering Physics

First Advisor

Jeffrey W. Grantham, PhD

Abstract

Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) are a form of semiconductor laser which have their cavity oriented orthogonally to the plane of the wafer. The orientation necessitates short cavities, highly reflective mirrors and a relatively high gain/loss ratio. Even so, the resultant superior exit beam characteristics and the tight packing density of the finished lasers provide strong motivation for pursuing the growth of these structures. This thesis details the design of an optically pumped InGaAs multiple quantum well periodic gain structure VCSEL with a 950 nm lasing wavelength. These growths were to be a first attempt at VCSEL construction, so part of this study included verification of the quality of the parts of the finished design. These measurements required the construction of a laboratory configuration to optically pump VCSELs and characterize them by spectral reflectivity, output beam polarization, mode, lasing wavelength, and optimal pump wavelength. Analysis of the characteristics for several VCSELs obtained from the University of Arizona, and the back mirror grown locally, illustrate tile ability to use measured data and theoretical spectral reflectivity calculations to determine the quality of the growths.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GE-ENP-92D-01

DTIC Accession Number

ADA258815

Comments

The author's Vita page is omitted.

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