Abstract

Due to short cavity lengths (~200-500 nm), vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) typically sustain only one longitudinal Fabry-Perot mode within their gain bandwidth, but can have multiple transverse modes due to relatively large cavity diameters (~10-20 μm).¹ Analogous to edge-emitting lasers, the transverse modes of VCSELs can be affected by index-guiding and the cavity diameter.² Unique to VCSELs, however, is the ease with which the geometric shape of the gain region can be tailored and the ability to add a patterned region of loss to favor particular transverse modes. We demonstrate that the transverse mode characteristics of VCSEL diodes can be influenced through such patterning. Exploiting tit is unique capability may provide methods for mode discrimination arid control and/or polarization selectivity in these devices.

© 1993 Optical Society of America