Transverse patterns and length-scale selection in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with a large square aperture

Abstract

The length-scale selection in complex emission patterns spontaneously arising in broad-area vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers is studied experimentally. The wavenumbers of individual tilted wave modes show a square-root-like dependence on the detuning between emission frequency and longitudinal cavity resonance, in accordance with theoretical expectations. The absolute values of the wavenumbers are in good qualitative agreement with calculations taking into account the reflection properties of the Bragg reflectors and dispersion.