Vol. 34, Issue 1, pp. 5-15 (2004)

Abstract

In spite of dramatic efforts of numerous technological centres in the world, until now room-temperature continuous-wave operation of nitride diode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL) has not been reported. It is probably associated with special features of nitride materials, which essentially distinguish them from other A^IIIB^V semiconductors. In this situation, technological centres need theoretical support to successfully design, modify and optimise possible structures of nitride VCSELs. Therefore, in the present paper, important mutual interactions between physical phenomena taking place inside nitride VCSELs and crucial for their operation are analysed. Some practical guidelines for nitride VCSEL designers are also drawn up.