Title :
Enhancement of lateral mode discrimination in broad-area VCSELs using curved Bragg mirrors
Author :
Sarangan, Andrew M. ; Peake, Gregory M.
Author_Institution :
Electro-Opt. Program, Univ. of Dayton, OH, USA
Abstract :
This paper studies a novel technique for enhancing the single mode properties of large-area oxide-confined vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs). It utilizes a nonplanar shadow masked epitaxial growth to spatially detune part of the upper Bragg stack from the lower stack. The resulting mirror reflectivity modulation is used to enhance the discrimination between the lateral modes. Compared to other techniques, this method results in a larger difference in threshold gain between the lateral modes. We have developed a quasi-three-dimensional (3-D) optical model to analyze this laser. Simulation results indicate that even a small curvature can enhance the mode discrimination, and single mode operation may be possible for VCSEL diameters much greater than 2 μm.
Keywords :
laser mirrors; laser modes; laser stability; optical modulation; optical tuning; quantum well lasers; reflectivity; semiconductor device models; surface emitting lasers; Bragg stack; broad-area VCSEL; curved Bragg mirror; lateral mode discrimination; nonplanar shadow mask; reflectivity modulation; single mode operation; spatial detuning; threshold gain; Epitaxial growth; Etching; Laboratories; Laser modes; Lenses; Microoptics; Mirrors; Optical surface waves; Surface emitting lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/JLT.2004.824378