Etching depth dependence of the effective refractive index in two-dimensional photonic-crystal-patterned vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser structures

A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) having a two-dimensional (2-D) photonic crystal structure on its surface has been investigated for single-lateral-mode operation. We evaluated the effective index change of a VCSEL cavity introduced by a 2-D pattern. Our experimental results showed good agreement with a theoretical model in which the influence of a finite etching depth was taken into consideration. The etching-depth dependence parameter gamma, which can be explained by the optical power distribution inside a VCSEL structure, will be helpful for controlling the lateral mode of VCSEL devices. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.