Polarization selection in birefringent vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers

Author

Valle, Angel ; Shore, K. Alan ; Pesquera, Luis

Author_Institution

Inst. de Fisica, Cantabria Univ., Santander, Spain

Volume

14

Issue

9

fYear

1996

fDate

9/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2062

Lastpage

2068

Abstract

An analysis has been undertaken of the effect of refractive index anisotropies or birefringence on the selection of polarization states in vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers. Attention is focused on the competition between the two orthogonal polarization states of the fundamental transverse mode. It is shown that refractive index differences of 0.005% are adequate for ensuring preferential excitation of a specific polarization state. It is found that at low injection currents both polarizations coexist with the same optical power. The dominant polarization state at higher injection currents is found to depend upon the geometry of the current injection in the active region

Keywords

birefringence; geometry; laser cavity resonators; laser theory; light polarisation; optical transmitters; refractive index; semiconductor device models; semiconductor lasers; surface emitting lasers; active region; birefringence; birefringent vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers; current injection; dominant polarization state; fundamental transverse mode; geometry; higher injection currents; low injection currents; optical power; orthogonal polarization states; polarization selection; polarization states; refractive index anisotropies; refractive index differences; specific polarization state; Anisotropic magnetoresistance; Birefringence; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Optical polarization; Optical refraction; Optical variables control; Refractive index; Surface emitting lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.536974

Filename

536974