Features of dual-wavelength generation in a vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser

The steady-state stability of a dual-wavelength vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser has been analyzed. It is shown that, in the laser with independent active regions containing quantum wells (QWs) of different depths, this state is always stable. The increment of growth and the frequency of oscillations of small deviations from the steady state are determined in the presence of coupling between the active regions, which is caused by the absorption of short-wavelength radiation in deep QWs. In the region of violation of the steady-state stability, the generation proceeds in the form of short pulses, with the almost simultaneous excitation of the optical fields at both frequencies.