CORRELATION OF ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECTIVELY OXIDIZED VERTICAL-CAVITY SURFACE-EMITTING LASERS

We investigate the correlation between the electrical and optical char acteristics of selectively oxidized vertical-cavity surface-emitting l asers (VCSELs). Electrical derivative analysis is used on VCSELs to st udy the electrical performance and its correlation with the polarizati on-resolved optical powers and spectra. Characteristic features are sh own in the IdV/dI curves near major transition points of VCSEL operati on. From the IdV/dI curve we are able to precisely identify important operating currents such as the lasing threshold, the higher-order mode lasing current, and the cut-off current. Five operation regions are d efined in the polarization-resolved L - I curves based on these curren ts and their temperature dependences are also studied. (C) 1997 Americ an Institute of Physics.