Polarization stabilization in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers through asymmetric current injection

Author

Verschaffelt, G. ; van der Vleuten, W. ; Creusen, M. ; Smalbrugge, E. ; van de Roer, T.G. ; Karouta, F. ; Strijbos, R.C. ; Danckaert, J. ; Veretennicoff, I. ; Ryvkin, B. ; Thienpont, H. ; Acket, G.A.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Appl. Phys. & Photonics, Vrije Univ., Brussels, Belgium

Volume

12

Issue

8

fYear

2000

Firstpage

945

Lastpage

947

Abstract

We present experimental evidence that asymmetric current injection in intracavity contacted vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) stabilizes the polarization of the emitted light. Anisotropies in the gain and loss mechanisms introduced by asymmetric current injection are considered to explain this effect. The design scheme opens perspectives to obtain actual polarization control in VCSELs.

Keywords

distributed Bragg reflector lasers; laser beams; laser cavity resonators; laser modes; laser stability; light polarisation; molecular beam epitaxial growth; optical fabrication; optical losses; semiconductor lasers; surface emitting lasers; VCSELs; anisotropies; asymmetric current injection; design scheme; emitted light; gain mechanisms; intracavity contacted vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers; loss mechanisms; polarization; polarization control; polarization stabilization; vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers; Anisotropic magnetoresistance; Distributed Bragg reflectors; Gallium arsenide; Laser stability; Lighting control; Optical polarization; Photonics; Physics; Surface emitting lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.867969

Filename

867969