TRANSVERSE-MODE SELECTION WITH A PASSIVE ANTIGUIDE REGION IN VERTICAL-CAVITY SURFACE-EMITTING LASERS

We report a numerical analysis on the transverse mode behavior of a no vel passive antiguide region buried heterostructure vertical cavity su rface emitting laser, which emits a single stable transverse mode from a large aperture. Two- and three-dimensional beam propagation methods were used to calculate the threshold gains and the actual modal profi les for the fundamental and first order modes. We show that the passiv e antiguide structure is the main modal selection mechanism and the hi gh order modes suffer much higher losses such that they are highly sup pressed from reaching thresholds.