Polarization mode control of two-dimensional photonic crystal laser having a square lattice structure

We investigate in detail control methods of polarization mode in a two-dimensional square-lattice photonic crystal laser. In order to control the polarization mode using the square lattice, we investigate the eigenmode of the electromagnetic field against the possible symmetry groups of a square lattice. Both the electromagnetic field distributions of lasing oscillation mode and the band diagram are significantly influenced by the symmetry groups. In the case of the square lattice structure, symmetries "p1", "pm", "p2", and "pmm" are suitable for obtaining the unidirectional polarization mode. Among these symmetry groups, the symmetry group "pmm" is especially interesting considering the simplicity of the eigenmode of the electromagnetic field. In order to obtain the symmetry group "pmm", we deform the unit cell structure of a square lattice from circular to elliptical and investigate the properties of symmetry group "pmm" in detail. The elliptical ratio of the unit cell structure can modify the coupling balance of a lightwave propagating in two perpendicular in-plane directions and can control the eigen energy of each band edge.