Modelling of photonic-crystal VCSELs with semi-vectorial and vectorial models

In the talk the results of the COST MP0702 exercise on modeling photonic- crystal (PC) VCSELs are presented. Four different numerical methods are compared through an analysis of a benchmark VCSEL structure, where the PC structure penetrates all VCSEL layers, the entire top-mirror DBR, a fraction of the top-mirror DBR or just the VCSEL cavity. The different models are evaluated by comparing the predicted resonance wavelengths and threshold gains for different hole diameters and pitches of the PC. The agreement between the models is relatively good, with an exception of one case, which corresponds to the effective index method. The simulation results elucidate the strength and weaknesses of the analyzed methods and outline the limits of applicability of different models.