Monolithically integrated laser/rear-facet monitor arrays withV-groove for passive optical fiber alignment

An InGaAsP/InP laser monolithically integrated with a rear facet monitor and a fiber V-groove has been demonstrated for the first time. The integrated device incorporates an etched-facet laser fabricated using an in situ, multistep, reactive ion etch process. The integrated V-groove, which is etched directly into the InP substrate, is designed to enable passive alignment of an optical fiber to the active region of the laser. Passive coupling efficiencies of 18% and 8% have been obtained using cleaved multimode and single mode fibers, respectively. Responsivities of the rear facet monitor were as high as 0.49 A/W