A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) having asymmetrical optical
confinement
is described. Polarization of VCSELs having symmetrical structures tend to be unpredictable
and switchable. The VCSEL of the present invention has a dielectric stack on top
of the emitting distributed Bragg mirror. The stack is made up of two or more layers
of dielectric material with each alternate layer having one of two different refractive
indexes. In a preferred embodiment an antireflective coating is between the top
mirror and the dielectric layers. The stack is preferably smaller than the emitting aperture.
