Spatial-filtered Vertical-cavity top surface-emitting lasers

Vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) technology has progressed rapidly over the past few years; however, Transverse Mode (TM) control remains elusive for VCSELS of practical dimensions.1-3 Here, we present a novel approach to select only the TEM00 lasing mode by using the exit window of a top surface4 emitter as a spatial filter. This technique allows us to produce repeatably and systematically TEM00-mode VCSELs exhibiting well-behaved electrical and optical characteristics, while maintaining the criteria of producibility. We also report record level single-TEM00-mode emission of over 2.6 mW.