Spatial modal control of two-dimensional photonic crystal Bragg lasers

We investigate the modal losses and field distributions of different order transverse modes supported by the photonic crystal Bragg structure using a transfer matrix method. We find that only the fundamental transverse mode has a single-lobed near field and far field and there exists a trade-off between ensuring lasing in the fundamental transverse mode and reducing the threshold. Employing these design principles, we experimentally demonstrate a large-area, edge-emitting, and single-mode semiconductor photonic crystal Bragg laser with a single-lobed, diffraction-limited far field under continuous wave condition.