Method and apparatus for optically and thermally isolating surface emitting laser diodes

摘要

An SEL array having improved optical isolation and heat conduction. The SEL array is constructed from a light generation layer and first and second mirror layers that sandwich the light generation layer. The first mirror and second mirrors reflect light generated in the light generation layer back toward the light generation layer. The first mirror includes a plurality of light isolation regions, each light isolation region extending through the first mirror. The light isolation regions divide the light generation layer into a plurality of light generation regions. Each light generation region corresponds to one of the SELs. Each light isolation region is positioned to prevent light generated in one of the light generation regions from propagating into a neighboring light generation region. In one embodiment of the present invention, the light isolation regions are constructed by providing trenches that extend from the surface of the SEL array through the first mirror. The trenches may be filled with a light absorbing material. The trenches may also be filled with a heat conducting material thereby providing an improved heat dissipation path for heat generated by the SELs. The light isolation regions may also be generated by ion-implanting regions between the SELs or by disordering one of the mirrors in regions between the SELs.