Resonant self-aligned-stripe antiguided diode laser array

Resonant-optical-waveguide (ROW) arrays with a self-aligned-stripe (SAS) geometry have been realized for the first time. Resonance is achieved by holding the array element/interelement widths constant and varying the aluminum composition of the passive guide layer. External differential quantum efficiencies as high as 47% have been achieved from longitudinally uniform 20-element 1000 μm-long devices. Diffraction-limited-beam operation is obtained up to 13×threshold, and 2.1 W output power level from devices with Talbot-type spatial filters. The front-facet emitted coherent uniphase power is 1.6 W, with 1.15 W in the central lobe.