Semiconductor optoelectronic devices for free-space optical communications

LIGHT emitting devices based AlGaAs lasers are very useful radiation sources in free-space opticalcommunications systems. Following a brief review of the properties of individual injection lasers, more complex devices are described. These include (or are relevant to) monolithic integration configurations of the lasers with their electronic driving circuitry, power combining methods of semiconductor lasers, and electronic methods of steering the radiation patterns of semiconductor lasers and laser arrays. Fabrication of such devices is one of the major prerequisites for realizing fully the potential advantages of free-space optical communications.