Turn-off transients in current-modulated multitransverse-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Turn-off transients in current-modulated weakly index-guided vertical-cavit y surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are analyzed by using a model that takes into account all the transverse modes supported by the waveguide. The turn -off transients strength is maximum for the current at which the VCSEL ente rs the multitransverse-mode regime. Their strength significatively decrease s for the multimode regime and then operation in several modes is beneficia l to avoiding turn-off transients when modulating the VCSEL well above thre shold in order to achieve a required modulation rate or a sufficient optica l output power. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.