Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser with high side-mode suppression ratio and high polarization-mode suppression ratio and a method of manufacturing the same

A method of manufacturing a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), the method comprising:

• providing an active region configured to emit light;
• forming an aperture proximate a first side of the active region, wherein the aperture is configured for confining electrical current and an optical field of the light, and wherein the aperture defines an optical axis;
• forming a mode filter on the first side of the active region along the optical axis;
• and
• forming a polarization filter along the optical axis on a second side of the active region opposite the first side of the active region;
• and
• wherein the mode filter and the polarization filter are configured to be independently configurable to increase a side-mode suppression ratio of the VCSEL and a polarization-mode suppression ratio of the VCSEL, respectively.

A laser, comprising:

• an active region configured to emit light, wherein the active region defines an optical axis;
• a mode filter positioned along the optical axis on a first side of the active region, wherein the mode filter is configured to increase a side-mode suppression ratio of the laser;
• and
• a polarization filter positioned along the optical axis on a second side of the active region opposite the first side of the active region, wherein the polarization filter is configured to increase a polarization-mode suppression ratio of the laser;
• and
• wherein the mode filter and the polarization filter are configured to be independently adjustable to increase the side-mode suppression ratio of the laser and the polarization-mode suppression ratio of the laser, respectively.

A laser, comprising:

• an active region configured to emit light substantially parallel to an optical axis;
• a first element positioned along the optical axis, wherein the first element is configured to increase a side-mode suppression ratio of the laser;
• a second element positioned along the optical axis, wherein the second element is configured to increase a polarization-mode suppression ratio of the laser;
• and
• wherein the first element and the second element are configured to be independently adjustable to increase the side-mode suppression ratio of the laser and the polarization-mode suppression ratio of the laser, respectively.