Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41016941›Full record

ArticleLight, science & applications2025

Shaping the light of VCSELs through cavity geometry design.

Hang Lu, Omar Alkhazragi, Heming Lin, Tien Khee Ng, Boon S Ooi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Light, science & applications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Hang Lu *Photonics Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Program, Division of Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4248-945X
Omar Alkhazragi *Photonics Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Program, Division of Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6247-842X
Heming LinPhotonics Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Program, Division of Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-6108-6589
Tien Khee NgPhotonics Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Program, Division of Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1480-6975
Boon S OoiPhotonics Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Program, Division of Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. boon.ooi@kaust.edu.sa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9606-5578

Funding

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) BAS/1/1614-01-01King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) FCC/1/5939King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) ORA-2022-5313King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) RFS-OFP2023-5534
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are essential in modern optoelectronic systems, driving applications in high-speed optical communications, 3D sensing, and LiDAR. While significant progress has been made in improving VCSEL performance, the role of cavity geometry in optimizing key optical characteristics remains insufficiently explored. This study systematically examines how distinct cavity geometries-circular, square, D-shaped, mushroom-shaped, and pentagonal-affect both the static and dynamic properties of broad-area VCSELs. We analyze their effects on optical power, multimode behavior, beam profile, spatial coherence, and polarization dynamics. Our results show that breaking the continuous rotational symmetry of the cavity effectively increases gain utilization and power, changes the multimode lasing characteristics, shapes the beam, and modifies the polarization. Notably, the pentagonal VCSEL exhibits more than twice the optical power density of its circular counterpart. It also supports the highest number of modes and the fastest mode dynamics, driven by strong mode interaction. These properties make it a strong candidate for high-speed entropy generation. Mushroom-shaped VCSELs demonstrate high power and low spatial coherence, making them ideal for speckle-free imaging and illumination applications. Meanwhile, D-shaped VCSELs provide the most stable polarization and controllable multimode behavior with high power, showcasing their potential for applications that require stable and low-coherence light sources. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the impact of cavity geometry on VCSEL performance, which provides insights for optimizing VCSEL designs tailored to diverse applications that require distinct properties with broad applicability to advanced imaging, sensing, optical coherence tomography, high-speed communication, and other photonic technologies.

Identifiers

PMID41016941
PMCPMC12477291

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.