Analysis on thermal characteristics of annular beam pumped vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers by finite element method

The annular beam as a pump light of VECSELs is presented for the first time in this study. The thermal characteristics of VECSELs were calculated and simulated by finite element method, and the influence of the annular beam's annulus radius, the annulus width, and the pumping power to the VECSELs’ thermal characteristics was analyzed in detail. The results indicated that the annular beam can improve the VECSELs’ thermal characteristics efficiently, and provide a favorable term to generate laser in the central part of the annular. The theoretical results provided theoretical reference and experimental study for the design of high-power optically pumped VECSELs.