Sub-40 μA continuous-wave lasing in an oxidized vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser with dielectric mirrors

Due to two improvements in cavity design, low-threshold lasing is achieved in oxidized vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers incorporating upper dielectric distributed Bragg reflectors. Intracavity absorption is reduced by removal of a heavily p-type contact layer and the use of a low-loss MgF-ZnSe upper mirror. We report sub-100 μA lasing for a 7-μm diameter device, and sub-40 μA lasing for a 3-μm diameter device. The low-loss cavity design also allows for highly multimode operation at a low-bias current of 600 μA in a detuned cavity.