title: Three-dimensional analysis of mode discrimination in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers.
abstract: Optical mode discrimination in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers that contain distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) and a spatially limited gain medium is analyzed numerically. It is assumed that the output field is linearly polarized owing to gain selectivity. The analysis employs a three-dimensional model and an angular spectrum of plane-wave decomposition with the proper polarizations. Two types of round aperture are considered, namely, a Gaussian aperture and a ring-peak aperture that represents gain saturation. Coupled with the DBRs, the former aperture yields nearly Laguerre-Gaussian modes, whereas the latter aperture significantly distorts the mode shapes. In both cases, narrowband DBRs provide the best mode discrimination.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physics of Nanostructures, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. martin.achtenhagen@epfl.ch
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Achtenhagen
authors.forename: Amos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kapon