Optical characteristics of multitransverse-mode two-dimensional vertical-cavity top surface-emitting laser arrays

We observe for the first time up to nine transverse modes lasing in the individual elements of a two-dimensional vertical-cavity top surface-emitting laser array under pulsed operation. These modes consist of the TEM/sub 0,0/, TEM/sub 0,1/, TEM/sub 1,0/, TEM/sub 1,1/, TEM/sub 0,2/, TEM/sub 2,0/, TEM/sub 1,2/, TEM/sub 2,1/, and TEM/sub 2,2/ modes, Each of these modes couples coherently across the array to form very distinct supermodes. The transverse modes as well as the resulting supermodes are identified by examining the near-field and far-field profiles as well as the corresponding spectra. We also obtain a record 1.4 W (pulsed) of coherent output power from the array during multitransverse-mode operation. In addition, the polarization properties of the array are investigated, It is found that the TEM/sub 0,1/ mode is horizontally polarized along the [011] crystalline axis while all the other modes are dominantly vertically polarized along the [011~] axis.