Comparison between high- and zero-contrast gratings as VCSEL mirrors

This study presents a comparison between high-contrast gratings (HCGs) and zero-contrast gratings (ZCGs) for high-speed vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). Both types of gratings exhibit high reflectivities beyond 99.5% due to the destructive interference at the output plane, but the HCG has a broader high reflectivity band. The HCG has a lower reflection delay time and smaller energy penetration length than the ZCG. The HCG has poorer mode selectivity for the VCSEL than the ZCG. The fabrication of the ZCG is less complex but with tight fabrication tolerances.