Polarization and transverse mode control of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers with metal nano-structure

The surface emitting laser is one of the leading candidates for a light source supporting next-generation ultra-high-speed optical linking techniques. However, in surface emitting lasers, especially for the single mode elements, the challenges include increasing the single mode output and stabilizing the polarization direction, and thus the technique for controlling the polarization and transverse modes is important. In this study, we propose a surface emitting laser with a metal nanoscaie aperture array whose permeability shows a strong polarization dependence, formed on a p-type semiconductor multilayered film reflector, as a new method for controlling the polarization and transverse modes, and in addition, we explain the potential of its polarization and transverse mode control. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.