Mid-infrared generation in vertical-cavity-surface-emitting laser

The model of the vertical-cavity laser for mid-infrared emission caused by the internal nonlinear photomixing of two-frequency simultaneous generation is proposed. The effect of loss caused by free carriers both at near- and mid-infrared oscillations on output laser characteristics is analyzed. The difference frequency power in the mid-infrared range is shown to be about 0.1-1 /spl mu/m for emitting surface of 10/sup 4/-10/sup 5/ /spl mu/m/sup 2/. The resonant structure tuned to the mid-infrared oscillation frequency could substantially increase the power.