Metal-Cavity Surface-Emitting Nanolasers

A new type of surface-emitting nanolasers with a metal cavity is proposed and analyzed for potential use in future optical interconnects. Rather than using the surface mode of the metallic waveguide, the design uses the low-loss optical fiber HE₁₁ mode. An analytical Fabry-Pérot model is formulated to include the nanocavity effect. A numerical model based on the FDTD method is also used to confirm our analytical model and illustrate the major physics and important optimization principles. The model is also used to analyze the cavity modes of quantum-dot metal-cavity surface-emitting microlasers with the results agreeing very well with the experimental data.