EFFECTIVE-INDEX MODEL FOR VERTICAL-CAVITY SURFACE-EMITTING LASERS

A new effective index optical model is presented for the analysis of l ateral waveguiding effects in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. In addition to providing a concise formalism for reducing the dimensi onality of the Maxwell equations describing the lasing mode, this mode l also provides new insights into waveguiding phenomena in vertical-ca vity lasers. In particular, it is shown that the effective index respo nsible for waveguiding is dependent only on lateral changes in the Fab ry-Perot resonance frequency. This concept leads naturally to new desi gn methods for these lasers that are expected to result in more effici ent devices with superior modal characteristics.