Rigorous optical VCSEL modelling based on vectorial eigenmode expansion

To enable the further improvement of VCSEL properties, an accurate optical model is needed to study the effects of transverse optical confinement on threshold gain and modal stability. An important example in this respect is the choice of the thickness and the position of an oxide aperture in the design of high-performance VCSELs. We will present different approaches for the optical modelling of these devices based on vectorial eigenmode expansion techniques. These approaches take the vectorial nature of Maxwell´s equations into account and are therefore fully rigorous, even in the case of devices that are small compared to the wavelength or devices with high index contrasts, as is the case in oxide-apertured devices.