Coherent control of a microcavity laser

Summary form only given. The potential for ultrafast optical switching has motivated much of the research in coherent control. Lasers have long coherence times at room temperature and warrant attention. This work explores phase control in a microcavity laser, a system consisting of a coherent light field and an incoherent carrier population. We demonstrate double pulse coherent control of VCSEL modes with a round trip gain of less than one. We report temporary lasing in a below threshold multi-mode VCSEL and carrier mediated phase-locking between cross-polarized VCSEL modes. With further development, coherent control could be used to actively reset a laser on a sub-picosecond timescale.