Supermode switching and beam steering in phased vertical cavity surface emitting laser arrays

We demonstrate electrically controlled supermode switching and beam steering in separate-contact phased vertical cavity surface emitting laser arrays based on proton implantation. The mode switching between out-of-phase and in-phase mode was successfully achieved via controlling the injected currents. The beam steering in two directions is continuous and controllable by proper adjustment of driving currents. The properties of near-field, far-field, optical power and spectra under different currents are analyzed detailedly.