Integration of 2D photonic crystals with ridge waveguide lasers

2D triangular photonic crystals (PCs) have been integrated as laser mirrors in electrically pumped InGaAs/AlGaAs ridge waveguide lasers. The investigated PC lattice constants range from 160 to 400 nm with light incident along both main symmetry directions ΓM and ΓK. The observed cw laser performance is strongly dependent on both orientation and period of the PC. This behaviour is discussed using a 2D transfer matrix calculation of the PC reflectivity. As a demonstrator device relying on the 2D light confining properties of the PC, an active beamsplitter with a bending radius of 5 μm is presented. Here, the PC is successfully used as cladding material in the S-bent regions of the ridge waveguide, significantly reducing the bending loss.