Two-frequency coupled-cavity vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

A mathematical model of a two-frequency semiconductor coupled-cavity vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (CC-VCSEL) is developed. The wavelengths of generated modes and intensity distributions of longitudinal and transverse modes are calculated. It is shown that two-frequency generation with the difference between the radiation wavelengths varying from 0.08 to 50 nm can be obtained in AlGaAs/GaAs/InGaAs CC-VCSELs. The wavelength difference is bounded above by the reflection bandwidth of Bragg mirrors and bounded below by thermal effects in the active medium, the precision of the laser fabrication and the required output power.