Effect of nonlinear optical three-wave interaction on the lasing parameters of a dual-wavelength vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser

The influence of nonlinear optical interaction in a semiconductor dual-wavelength vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser on the main parameters of dual-wavelength radiation and lasing in the long-wavelength part of the mid-IR range, obtained in this laser as a result of nonlinear wave mixing, is investigated. An increase in the pump power leads to saturation of the short-wave-length lasing intensity and to a more rapid rise in the long-wavelength lasing intensity in comparison with the linear increase in lasing intensity in these regions in the absence of nonlinear interaction. Under the conditions of nonlinear interaction, the carrier concentration in the active layers is not stabilised near the lasing threshold but changes with an increase in the pump intensity and provides the corresponding gain in the laser active region, thus maintaining steady-state lasing. Some ways for modifying the laser active region in order to obtain the most efficient lasing in the mid-IR range are proposed.