Analysis of Threshold Currents and Transverse Modes in Nitride VCSELs With Different Resonators

摘要

This paper presents a comprehensive, self-consistent, room-temperature simulation of the operation of 414-nm nitride-based vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). We calculate the threshold currents and optical modes in a VCSEL structure based on the first continuous-wave nitride VCSEL reported to operate at room temperature, and in subsequent modifications of that structure. The effects of spectral detuning and of variations in resonator length and optical/electrical apertures are analyzed. Mechanisms of mode selection are described, and the fact that nitride VCSELs can operate on a very high-order mode is explained.