HIGH-ORDER TRANSVERSE CAVITY MODES IN HETEROJUNCTION DIODE LASERS

Abstract
A refined theoretical model predicts the modal content in the plane perpendicular to the junction for heterojunction injection lasers. It gives good agreement with observed far‐field patterns. Because high‐order modes are favored, lasers with a wide optical cavity sandwiched between two heterojunctions have a beam width at least double that of single‐heterojunction lasers. In a thin cavity which supports but one mode, the increased confinement of the double heterojunction broadens the beam to about 40° at half‐power.