Modeling of generating ultra-high frequency oscillations in VCSEL integrated with cascaded transverse coupled cavities

Abstract

We report on the design and modeling of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) integrated in the lateral direction with a cascade of multiple passive cavities. The scheme is proposed to increase the bandwidth of the VCSEL in the mm-waveband to generate ultra-high-frequency oscillations with low-frequency chirp. The model treats the transverse feedback induced by the cascaded transverse coupled cavities (TTCs) as time delay of the transverse slow light due to round trips in these cavities. The simulation is based on numerical integration of the modified time-delay rate equations of the intensity and phase of the electric field. The simulation results are used to optimize the TCCs parameters, including the coupling ratio and TCC length, for generating ultra-high-frequency signals with high intensity, low chirping and low distortion. The obtained results show that the proposed structure could achieve 300% enhancement of the modulation bandwidth of the C-VCSEL due to either extended carrier-photon resonance (CPR) frequencies of photon–photon resonance (PPR). Signals with frequencies as high as (40–49 GHz) with second-harmonic distortion lower than − 30 dB are presented.