Modeling of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser containing a resonant multi-QW heterostructure

Abstract

A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) containing a resonant heterostructure of an array of quantum wells (QW) is considered. The set of QW separated by barriers represents a periodical structure with period equal to a laser wavelength. Bragg reflectors serve as the laser mirrors. In the first stage we study ldquocoldrdquo cavity properties neglecting change of material characteristics induced by the electromagnetic field. The eigenvalue problem to determine the resonator modes is solved numerically. Complex eigenvalues found define the wavelength shifts relative to reference value and threshold gains. The next stage of study relates to a case of a loaded cavity when self-consistent solving of a wave field equation and material equations is required. The charge carrier distributions in each of QW obey non-linear diffusion equation. We have developed the special iteration procedure for round-trip operator evaluation, which is applicable for a set of QW of any size and has computational costs growing linearly with number of QW. The results of calculations for a cylindrical VCSEL with e-beam pumping will be reported.