Lasing characteristics of visible AlGaInP/AlGaAs vertical-cavity lasers

We report the lasing characteristics of gain-guided AlGaInP/AlGaAs visible vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diodes. At room temperature, continuous-wave operation is achieved over the wavelength range of 657-685 nm with the minimum threshold current at 670 nm. Devices with a 10-microm diameter have threshold currents as low as 1.25 mA at room temperature (297 K) and 0.8 mA at 250 K. In addition, a single predetermined linear polarization state is found, independent of the lasing mode order and operating temperature.