Quasi-3D Model of Edge-emitting Lasers Accounting for Coherent and Incoherent Coupling of Lateral Modes

We present a quasi-three dimensional (3D) simulation model for edge-emitting lasers based on the propagation of a guess initial field forward and backward along the cavity until an stable solution is found. The bipolar complete semiconductor and the thermal equations are solved in 3D. The electro-thermal solver is coupled to a 2D beam propagation method that makes use of the effective index approximation. The model is applied to the simulation of ridge waveguide lasers. Two different approaches regarding the symmetry of the photon density are presented and discussed in what concerns their relationship with the coherent and incoherent coupling of lateral modes in real devices.