Adaptable method for modelling optical fields in VCSELs

A quasi-analytic formulation based on Laguerre-Gauss functions (LG-Fs) that appears to be suitable to analyse vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is described. The paper focuses on demonstrating the attractive feature of LG-Fs in solving for optical field propagation in both diffracting type and guided-wave type configurations, which is particularly advantageous for modelling present-day VCSELs. The paper also outlines the LG-F expansion formalism to solve for both the optical field and the carrier density distribution to achieve a self-consistent VCSEL model.