Micromachined tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with narrow linewidth for near infrared gas detection

Benjamin Kögel; Karolina Zogal; Sandro Jatta; Christian Grasse; Markus-C. Amann; Garrett Cole; Maximilian Lackner; Michael Schwarzott; Franz Winter; Peter Meissner

doi:10.1117/12.816272

17 November 2008 Micromachined tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with narrow linewidth for near infrared gas detection

Benjamin Kögel, Karolina Zogal, Sandro Jatta, Christian Grasse, Markus-C. Amann, Garrett Cole, Maximilian Lackner, Michael Schwarzott, Franz Winter, Peter Meissner

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7266, Optomechatronic Technologies 2008; 72660O (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.816272
Event: International Symposium on Optomechatronic Technologies, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The design, technology and characteristics as well as sensing applications of micromachined long-wavelength (~1.55μm) tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers are reported. The laser combines an active optical component (so-called half-VCSEL) and an agile mechanical component (MEMS) in a hybrid assembly. Electrothermal actuation expands the enclosed air-gap and continuously shifts the cavity resonance towards longer wavelengths. A curved mirror membrane is deployed to solely excite the desired fundamental mode with high output power and high sidemode suppression. The comparatively high stiffness of the MEMS lifts its mechanical resonance frequency to values around 150 kHz as measured by laser Doppler vibrometry under electrostatic actuation and - at the same time - reduces its susceptibility to Brownian motion. Laser linewidths as narrow as 32MHz are demonstrated by using the self-heterodyning technique and the wavelength dependent linewidth variation is presented for the first time. After successful absorption spectroscopy experiments under steady laboratory conditions the tunable VCSEL is used for trace gas detection in a combustion process. Preliminary experimental results are shown and practically encountered problems are discussed.

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Benjamin Kögel, Karolina Zogal, Sandro Jatta, Christian Grasse, Markus-C. Amann, Garrett Cole, Maximilian Lackner, Michael Schwarzott, Franz Winter, and Peter Meissner "Micromachined tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with narrow linewidth for near infrared gas detection", Proc. SPIE 7266, Optomechatronic Technologies 2008, 72660O (17 November 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.816272

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