Semiconductor laser with longitudinal-mode selection

A new method for longitudinal-mode selection in a semiconductor laser is proposed, based on the conversion of such modes into higher-order transverse modes which can subsequently be filtered out. The key element of this design is an interference cell that is based on an active waveguide, consisting of two branches of different length. If this interference cell is placed between the mirrors of a resonator, and if the emission in higher-order modes is suppressed by some device, the new type of laser with longitudinal-mode selection results. Such a laser would emit in a single mode over a broad range of pump currents, and could be used as an exceptionally good light source for integrated optics and high-speed fiber-optics communications.