Title :
Polarization Dynamics of Current-Modulated Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers
Author :
Masoller, Cristina ; Torre, Maria Susana ; Shore, K. Alan
Author_Institution :
Univ. Politecnica de Catalunya, Terrassa
Abstract :
We study the dynamics of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with direct current modulation in the framework of a model for index-guided VCSELs that takes into account two orthogonal linear polarizations. We analyze the effect of current modulation near the polarization switching (PS) of type I, from the high to the low frequency polarization, and near the PS of type II, from the low to the high frequency polarization. We find that the oscillations of the total power are as those of a single-mode laser, unaffected by the underlaying polarization coexistence or polarization competition. We also study the small-signal modulation response in the Fourier domain, for modulation dc values near the PS point. Close to type I PS the response of the total power as well as the response of the orthogonal polarizations has the same functional dependency on the modulation frequency, and can be fitted by the response function of a single-mode laser. Close to type II PS, polarization competition is a significant process at low modulation frequencies. The polarization-resolved modulation response displays features at low frequencies that are not present in the response of the total power, which is as that of a single-mode laser. The dynamics becomes increasingly complex as the modulation amplitude grows, and there is multistability of solutions.
Keywords :
laser beams; laser cavity resonators; laser modes; light polarisation; numerical analysis; optical modulation; surface emitting lasers; Fourier domain; current-modulated vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser; index-guided VCSEL; modulation frequency; orthogonal linear polarization dynamics; polarization switching; single-mode laser; small-signal modulation response; Bandwidth; Displays; Frequency modulation; Laser modes; Optical fiber communication; Optical fiber polarization; Optical polarization; Power lasers; Surface emitting lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers; Current modulation; polarization switching; vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs);
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/JQE.2007.907237