Analysis of optical scattering losses in vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We report on an analysis of optical surface-scattering losses in vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers. In this study, a laser chip with enhanced surface roughness compared with a high-quality chip is employed in order to allow for investigation of a scattering loss component described in theoretical considerations. A simple model for the extraction of the laser chip’s thermal resistance from experimental input–output characteristics based on thermal roll-over is expanded with respect to a non-thermal component of losses. Thereby, we demonstrate good agreement of experimental data with theoretical modeling when taking into account a power loss component proportional to an optical surface-scattering-loss coefficient in relation to photon out-coupling rates.