Difference-frequency generation in novel double vertical cavity surface-emitting laser

The model of a novel laser using the GaAs/AlGaAs lattice nonlinearity for mid-infrared emission due to nonlinear frequency conversion is proposed. An active region, designed to generate two-frequency near-infrared simultaneous oscillations, is embedded in a vertical-cavity surface-emitting structure. Double Bragg mirrors, tuned to both the mid- and near-infrared wavelengths, are used to enhance emission. The power density of mid-infrared emission, at a wavelength of about 13 /spl mu/m, is shown to be of the order of 10/sup -3/ /spl mu/W//spl mu/m/sup 2/ under a pumping current of 5 kA/cm/sup 2/.