Long-wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser using an electro-optic index modulator with 10 nm tuning range

We demonstrate an original approach to achieving a tunable 1.55 μ m vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser. The tunability is based on an electro-optic index modulator using nanosized droplets of liquid crystal as a phase layer. Such an approach can produce a robust and a low-cost device. A 10 nm tuning range with less than 170 V applied voltage has been demonstrated. The device is formed by a conventional InP-based active region with an epitaxial and a dielectric Bragg mirror. This optically pumped device exhibits an excellent side-mode suppression ratio of higher than 20 dB over the whole spectral range.