A surface-emitting photonic crystal distributed feedback laser apparatus
configured to emit an optical beam of light. The apparatus includes a
laser cavity bounded by top and bottom optical claddings, an active region
configured to produce optical gain upon receiving optical or electrical
pumping, a periodic two-dimensional grating having an order higher than
the fundamental and configured to induce modulation of a modal refractive
index, and lateral pumped gain area contained within an area covered by
the grating, the lateral pumped gain area configured to produce gain in
one or more lasing modes having a modal index modulated by the grating.
The lateral pumped gain area has a substantially circular shape of
diameter D, and wherein the pumped gain area is enclosed by an unpumped
region contained within the area covered by the grating but not receiving
the optical or electrical pumping.
