VECSEL slope efficiency can be expressed as a product of the quantum defect, the output coupling efficiency, and the quantum efficiency. This last factor represents the efficiency with which pump photons incident on the sample are converted into useful laser photons. Measurements of the quantum efficiency of a VECSEL sample using pump sources over a range of wavelengths and with a range of powers and areas on the sample can be used to characterise a sample and to inform decisions about the optimum pumping conditions to achieve maximum output power given a particular pump source and gain sample. This paper will describe the results of lasing and quantum efficiency measurements of a resonant, 11 quantum well gain sample when pumped using 808 nm, 532 nm and broadband pump sources over a range of spot sizes and incident powers. Conclusions will be drawn regarding VECSEL power scaling, sample design, and the prospects for optical pumping of high power VECSELs using non-laser sources.

Date Published: 4 March 2015
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 9349, Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) V, 934904 (4 March 2015); doi: 10.1117/12.2079153

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9349:
Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) V
Mircea Guina, Editor(s)