Lasing behavior of circular grating surface-emitting semiconductor lasers

We describe the operating characteristics of optically pumped concentric-circle-grating surface-emitting semiconductor lasers. The circular grating defines the laser resonant cavity and provides for a symmetric surface-emitted beam. We present detailed experimental studies of the influence of epitaxial semiconductor material and grating design on lasing characteristics. We emphasize the effect of grating parameters on the lasing and damage thresholds and on the shape, polarization, diffraction, and spectral purity of emitted radiation.