MODELING THE CURRENT TO LIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OF INDEX-GUIDED VERTICAL-CAVITY SURFACE-EMITTING LASERS

While there have been many advances in the field, vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser performance has been limited by undefined thermal effects. A temperature dependent, physically based model has been developed which simulates the steady state output characteristics of index-guided vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. The model has lead to the development of lasers with improved temperature stability and output power. Experimental devices have been fabricated which exhibit a minimum threshold current of 1.6 mA at 70-degrees-C with a variation of less than 0.5 mA over a 80-degrees-C range.