Photodigm Inc. of Richardson, Texas, has created a 1310-nm grating-outcoupled surface-emitting (GSE) laser with single-mode output powers of up to 6 mW. The technology provides the performance of a distributed-feedback laser with the advantages of a VCSEL, according to the company. The laser uses an edge-emitting epitaxial material structure and first- and second-order gratings for the distributed Bragg reflectors and the outcoupler. Its design may result in cost savings and enhanced performance for a variety of photonic devices in the enterprise and access markets.

In a separate development, the US government has awarded Photodigm a contract of approximately $1 million to develop a high-power surface-emitting laser based on the GSE technology. The device will include a lenslike lateral layer for mode control and is expected to produce a high-brightness beam with a wavelength of 975-nm and output power of up to 10 W.