Particularities of pattern formation in broad-area lasers with transverse anisotropy: stability properties of transverse standing waves in infinite systems

A frequently used theoretical approach to describe pattern formation in broad-area lasers is to decompose the field into transverse Fourier harmonics. In general, a limited family of ´critical´ Fourier modes has the lowest threshold of generation and determines the transverse structure. A relatively complete theoretical description using this approach has been developed for lasers with transversely isotropic cavities. However, broad-area semiconductor microcavity lasers can possess a transverse anisotropy due to their layer structure. In this report we consider such a laser taking the theoretical model of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) previously developed as a paradigm.