SIZE DEPENDENCE OF TRANSVERSE-MODE STRUCTURE IN OXIDE-CONFINED VERTICAL-CAVITY LASER-DIODES

We analyze the transverse mode structure of selectively oxidized verti cal-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers as a function of the aperture size and injection current. Measurements of the spectral spli ttings, the near and far field sizes and the response to pulsed operat ion demonstrate that a parasitic thermal lens can be a dominant factor in determining the transverse resonator properties of small (< 3 mu m ) lasers. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.