High-power optically pumped 1550-nm VECSEL with a bonded silicon heat spreader

We present an optically pumped 1550-nm vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser with improved output power and operating temperature using a bonded heat spreader. The laser comprises an InGaAsP-based gain element, with a resonant periodic gain structure on top of a distributed Bragg reflector, and a high reflectivity spherical mirror as the external reflector. Heat transport is enhanced by a Si heat spreader bonded to the InGaAsP surface by liquid capillary bonding. Optical pumping is achieved using a 1250-nm fiber Raman laser. A maximum continuous output power of 250 mW was obtained under multitransverse mode operation at 240 K. Under operation in the fundamental near-Gaussian mode, we obtained a maximum power of 230 mW with a beam quality factor (M/sup 2/) of 1.22. At room temperature, the output power was limited to 12 mW.