Comprehensive model of 1550 nm MEMS-tunable high-contrast-grating VCSELs

A comprehensive theoretical model for the long-wavelength micro-electro-mechanical-tunable high-contrast-grating vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers is presented. Our band structure model calculates the optical gain and spontaneous emission of the InGaAlAs quantum well active region. The grating reflectivity and the cavity resonance condition are investigated through optical modeling. Correlating the results with the electrostatic model for the micro-electro-mechanical system, we accurately predict the measurements on the voltage-contolled lasing wavelength. Furthermore, our calculated temperature-dependent wavelength-tunable light output vs. current (L-I) curves show excellent agreement with experiment.