ON THE THERMAL-RESISTANCE OF VERTICAL-CAVITY SURFACE-EMITTING LASERS

Thermal properties of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are studied using their comprehensive, three-dimensional, self-consis tent, thermal-electrical simulation. The thermal resistance versus ope ration current relation is found to be completely different for two ba sic VCSEL configurations, i.e. for proton-implanted top-surface-emitti ng lasers (top-emitting VCSELs) and etched-well lasers (bottom-emittin g VCSELs). The above fact is explained using a concept of the average centre of heat generation within a laser volume and its shift with an increase in an operation current.