Near-infrared vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with 3-MHz linewidth

The linewidth of electrically pumped vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers optimized for spectroscopic applications in the near-infrared has been examined in detail. Both a high-resolution scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer and a delayed self-homodyne technique were employed for high-resolution linewidth measurement. Record narrow spectral linewidths of 3 MWz were obtained at output powers near 0.8 mW.