Wave-front-engineered grating mirrors for VCSELs

Abstract

High-index-contrast grating mirrors featuring beam steering abilities for the transmitted beam as well as high reflectivity over a broad bandwidth are suggested. Gratings designed to provide control over the wave front of the transmitted beam are numerically investigated. The proposed structures are then fabricated for experimental characterization. The measurements performed show the beam steering ability of the suggested HCG designs and are also in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. General design rules to engineer these HCG structures for different applications are derived. These grating mirrors would have a significant impact on low cost laser sources fabrication, since a more efficient integration of optoelectronic modules can be achieved by avoiding expensive external lens systems.