Mode coupling between the whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) is numerically investigated for a two-dimensional microdisk resonator with an output waveguide. The equilateral-polygonal shaped mode patterns can be constructed by mode coupling in the microdisk, and the coupled modes can still keep high quality factors (Q factors). For a microdisk with a diameter of 4.5 μm and a refractive index of 3.2 connected to a 0.6-μm-wide output waveguide, the coupled mode at the wavelength of 1490 nm has a Q factor in the order of 10⁴, which is ten times larger than those of the uncoupled WGMs, and the output efficiency defined as the ratio of the energy flux confined in the output waveguide to the total radiation energy flux is about 0.65. The mode coupling can be used to realize high efficiency directional-emission microdisk lasers.

$\mathrm{In}\mathrm{P}∕\mathrm{Ga}\mathrm{In}\mathrm{As}\mathrm{P}$ square-resonator microlasers with an output waveguide connected to the midpoint of one side of the square are fabricated by standard photolithography and inductively-coupled-plasma etching technique. For a $20\text{-}\mu \mathrm{m}$-side square microlaser with a $2\text{-}\mu \mathrm{m}$-wide output waveguide, cw threshold current is $11\mathrm{mA}$ at room temperature, and the highest mode Q factor is $1.0\times {10}^4$ measured from the mode linewidth at the injection current of $10\mathrm{mA}$. Multimode oscillation is observed with the lasing mode wavelength $1546\mathrm{nm}$ and the side-mode suppression ratio of $20\mathrm{dB}$ at the injection current of $15\mathrm{mA}$.

Chaotic semiconductor lasers have been widely investigated for generating unpredictable random numbers, especially for lasers with external optical feedback. Nevertheless, chaotic lasers under external feedback are hindered by external feedback loop time, which causes correlation peaks for chaotic output. Here, we demonstrate the first self-chaotic microlaser based on internal mode interaction for a dual-mode microcavity laser, and realize random number generation using the self-chaotic laser output. By adjusting mode frequency interval close to the intrinsic relaxation oscillation frequency, nonlinear dynamics including self-chaos and period-oscillations are predicted and realized numerically and experimentally due to internal mode interaction. The internal mode interaction and corresponding carrier spatial oscillations pave the way of mode engineering for nonlinear dynamics in a solitary laser. Our findings provide a novel and easy method to create controllable and robust optical chaos for high-speed random number generation.

Square microcavities with high quality factor whispering-gallery-like modes have a series of novel optical properties and can be employed as compact-size laser resonators. In this paper, the mode characteristics of square optical microcavities and the lasing properties of directional-emission square semiconductor microlasers are reviewed for the realization of potential light sources in the photonic integrated circuits and optical interconnects. A quasi-analytical model is introduced to describe the confined modes in square microcavities, and high quality factor whispering-gallery-like modes are predicted by the mode-coupling theory and confirmed by the numerical simulation. An output waveguide directly coupled to the position with weak mode field is used to achieve directional emission and control the lasing mode. Electrically-pumped InP-based directional-emission square microlasers are realized at room temperature, and the lasing spectra agree well with the mode analysis. Different kinds of square microcavity lasers, including dual-mode laser with a tunable interval, single-mode laser with a wide tunable wavelength range, and high-speed direct-modulated laser are also demonstrated experimentally.

We derive formulas for the optical confinement factor Γ from Maxwell’s equations for TE and TM modes in the slab waveguide. The numerical results show that the formulas yield correct mode gain for the modes propagating in the waveguide. We also compare the formulas with the standard definition of Γ as the ratio of power flow in the active region to the total power flow. The results show that the standard definition will underestimate the difference of optical confinement factors between TE and TM modes, and will underestimate the difference of material gains necessary for polarization insensitive semiconductor laser amplifiers. It is important to use correct optical confinement factors for designing polarization insensitive semiconductor laser amplifiers. For vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers, the numerical results show that Γ can be defined as the proportion of the product of the refractive index and the squared electric field in the active region.

Whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) hexagonal optical micro-/nanocavities can be utilized as high-quality ($Q$) resonators for realizing compact-size low-threshold lasers. In this paper, the progress in WGM hexagonal micro-/nanocavity lasers is reviewed comprehensively. High-$Q$ WGMs in hexagonal cavities are divided into two kinds of resonances propagating along hexagonal and triangular periodic orbits, with distinct mode characteristics according to theoretical analyses and numerical simulations; however, WGMs in a wavelength-scale nanocavity cannot be well described by the ray model. Hexagonal micro-/nanocavity lasers can be constructed by both bottom-up and top-down processes, leading to a diversity of these lasers. The ZnO- or nitride-based semiconductor material generally has a wurtzite crystal structure and typically presents a natural hexagonal cross section. Bottom-up growth guarantees smooth surface faceting and hence reduces the scattering loss effectively. Laser emissions have been successfully demonstrated in hexagonal micro-/nanocavities synthesized with various materials and structures. Furthermore, slight deformation can be easily introduced and precisely controlled in top-down fabrication, which allows lasing-mode manipulation. WGM lasing with excellent single-transverse-mode property was realized in waveguide-coupled ideal and deformed hexagonal microcavity lasers.