Effects of the spatial nonuniformity of optical transverse modes on the modulation response of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We present detailed numerical simulations to clarify the important role that the nonuniformity of the transverse optical mode plays for the high-speed response of oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). The comprehensive laser diode simulator, Minilase, as well as a one-dimensional rate equation model are used as simulation tools. It is demonstrated that, due to the nonuniform optical intensity, carriers at different locations in the quantum well have different stimulated recombination rates, and therefore exhibit different dynamic responses to small signal modulation. This nonuniformity causes an overdamping of the relaxation oscillation, as well as a low-frequency roll-off of the modulation response. Due to this nonlinear effect, the intrinsic maximum bandwidth of VCSELs with oxide confined apertures is shown to be much smaller than predicted by the conventional rate equation model which assumes uniform optical intensity. We further demonstrate that this damping effect can be greatly reduced by restricting the current injection to be well within the transverse optical field. This is achievable by using tapered oxides to make the electrical aperture smaller than the optical aperture, and thereby improves the modulation bandwidth significantly.