TRANSVERSE AND TEMPORAL MODE DEPENDENCE ON MIRROR CONTRAST IN MICROCAVITY LASERS

Optically pumped vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with four cav ities differing in mirror contrast ratio are fabricated and the steady -state and gain-switched operations are studied. Experimental data sho w the dependence of the steady-state and dynamic response of the lasin g mode on the cavity, gain region, and temperature. Coupling between t he transverse radiation pattern and the gain-switched pulse width in t ime is shown to exist. The results are analyzed by relating the measur ed radiation fields to the spatial extent and frequency content of the stimulated emission source.