Thispaperreviewstheprogressonnano-aperturevertical-cavitysurface-emittinglasers(VCSELs).Thedesign,fabrication,andpolarizationcontrolofnano-apertureVCSELsarereviewed.Withthenano-apertureevolvingfromconventionalcircularandsquareaperturetouniqueC-shaped,H-shaped,I-shaped,andbowtie-shapedaperture,boththenear-fieldintensityandnear-fieldbeamconfinementfromnano-apertureVCSELsaresignificantlyimproved.Asahigh-intensitycompactlightsourcewithsub-
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