Surface-structure-assisted chaotic mode lasing in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

We demonstrate chaotic mode lasing in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers at room temperature, with an open cavity confined laterally by the native oxide layer. Instead of introducing any defect mode, we show that suppression of lower-order cavity modes can be achieved by destroying vertical reflectors with a surface microstructure. Lasing on chaotic modes is observed directly through collecting near-field radiation patterns. Various vertical emission transverse modes are identified by the spectrum in experiments as well as numerical simulations in real and phase spaces.