Ripple-Free High-Power Super-Luminescent Diode Arrays

This paper presents the experimental and theoretical characterisation of arrays of tapered super-luminescent diodes to achieve very high, broad-band, ripple-free optical output. These arrays were fabricated from 980-nm high-power triple-quantum-well InGaAs-AlGaAs double heterostructures. Output powers of 2.7 W pulsed and of 280-mW quasi-CW were obtained from antireflection-coated arrays, with 10% maximum wall-plug efficiency per pulse at 0.75-W pulsed output power. Experimental and theoretical results for the optical-electrical characteristics and the near-and far-field radiation characteristics of the arrays are discussed and compared with those of corresponding individual super-luminescent diodes.