Polarization modulation dynamics of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with an extended cavity

Author

Robert, F. ; Besnard, P. ; Chares, M.l. ; Stephan, G.M.

Author_Institution

Lab. d´´Opt. Associe, CNRS, Lannion, France

Volume

33

Issue

12

fYear

1997

fDate

12/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2231

Lastpage

2239

Abstract

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are known to exhibit a small birefringence and dichroism whose axes are directed along the crystal axes of the quantum wells and which fix the polarization of the oscillating light. In this paper, we consider the dynamics of the polarization of light in such a laser, extended by means of a quarter-wavelength plate in an external cavity. Periodic variations are experimentally observed. A theoretical analysis and numerical results are proposed, using a recent model which includes the carriers´ spin interaction. A good match is found between experimental and numerical results

Keywords

birefringence; dichroism; laser cavity resonators; light polarisation; optical modulation; quantum well lasers; semiconductor device models; surface emitting lasers; VCSEL; crystal axes; dichroism; extended cavity; external cavity; oscillating light; periodic variations; polarization; polarization modulation dynamics; quantum wells; quarter-wavelength plate; small birefringence; spin interaction; vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers; Gas lasers; Laser feedback; Laser modes; Laser theory; Optical feedback; Optical polarization; Quantum well lasers; Semiconductor lasers; Surface emitting lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.644106

Filename

644106