Coherent emission from large aperture antiguided vertical cavity surface emitting laser arrays

The in-phase mode emission in coupled VCSELs and 2D 4×4 VCSEL arrays has been reported using antiguided VCSEL elements. Two-step metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) is used for the growth of the antiguided VCSEL array structure. Here we demonstrate that in-phase mode operation can be achieved from very large aperture (up to 20×20) rectangular and triangular antiguided VCSEL arrays in good agreement with theory. Simulation studies give insight into the mode discrimination mechanisms in these structures. A 3D biidirectional beam propagation method is also used to study both cold cavity and above threshold properties in our large aperture antiguided VCSEL arrays.