Microlensed vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser for stable single fundamental mode operation

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser structure that operates predominantly in the single fundamental transverse mode over a wide operation current range. In this laser structure, a microlens is integrated on top of an otherwise ordinary surface-emitting laser so that a small portion of laser output is fed back into the cavity, forcing the lasing to occur in the fundamental mode. Model calculations reproduce the observed mode selection effect.