Transverse emission pattern of a Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Laser with high Fresnel number : towards a cavity soliton laser ?

The transverse emission characteristics of an optically pumped vertical external cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL) operating in a high Fresnel number regime was investigated. This property is sought for the realization of a cavity soliton laser (CSL). Low to very high order flower-like transverse modes were observed experimentally. Output intensity of the VECSEL for different positions of the intracavity lens corresponding to an increasing Fresnel number were shown.