Optimized thin film light sources

The objective of this program was to develop and demonstrate techniques for efficiently coupling a semiconductor injection laser source to a hybrid optical integrated circuit. The specific design objectives were to produce and deliver two hybrid coupled laser/waveguide sources in which the laser was operated at 300 rk, driven with 20 to 250 nls length pulses at a repetition rate up to 104 P.P.S, emitting light at a wavelength between 0.8 micrometers into a thin film planar waveguide or either Ta205 or Nb205. At least one watt of peak optical power was to be coupled into the lowest order waveguide mode with a coupling efficiency of greater than 10%. All of the stated program objectives were achieved and in some cases surpassed. The approach used was to couple commercially available (GaAl) as laser diodes to thin film planar waveguides in a direct end-butt coupling arrangement.