Abstract

Compared to single-cavity VCSELs coupled-cavity devices have extra degrees of freedom which offer a greater control of the lasing parameters and can be used to achieve multiple functions in a monolithic and compact device [1-7]. This design flexibility has been exploited to demonstrate intensity modulation [1-3], Q-switching [2,3], self-pulsation [3], bistable output [2,3] and wavelength tuning [4]. It has also been used to fabricate VCSELs with built-in detectors [3]. Moreover, the occurrence of two longitudinal modes in a coupled-cavity VCSEL enabled to produce stable coaxial laser emission at two different wavelengths [5,6] and generation of Terahertz electromagnetic waves by external photomixing of the two modes has been proposed [7].

© 2003 Optical Society of America