Experimental analysis of spatial states in broad area vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Malte Arved Schulz-Ruhtenberg

Experimental analysis of spatial statesin broad-area vertical-cavitysurface-emitting lasersMalte Arved Schulz-Ruhtenberg2008Experimentelle PhysikExperimental analysis of spatial states in broad-areavertical-cavity surface-emitting lasersInaugural-Dissertationzur Erlangung des Doktorgradesder Naturwissenschaften im Fachbereich Physikder Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakult¨atder Westf¨alischen Wilhelms-Universit¨at Mu¨nstervorgelegt vonMalte Arved Schulz-Ruhtenbergaus Berlin– 2008 –Dekan: Prof. Dr. J. P. WesselsErster Gutachter: Dr. T. AckemannZweiter Gutachter: Prof. Dr. W. LangeTag der mundlic¨ hen Prufung:¨ 30.06.2008Tag der Promotion:AbstractIn this thesis, the properties of the transverse patterns emitted by oxide-confinedvertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with a large aperture are studied ex-perimentally. These include lasers with square (30 and 40μm side length) and circularaperture (80μm diameter). The lasers tend to emit highly divergent modes due to theirlarge Fresnel number, which reduces the beam quality drastically. It is thus of some in-terest for applications to understand the processes that lead to the formation of thesetransverse modes. The lasers also offer the opportunity to study spontaneous patternformation in a system which is easy to operate and available in many different designs.