Control of polarization switching in vertical coupled-cavities surface emitting lasers

We report a novel three-contact vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) for use in polarization-sensitive optical applications. The device consists of two vertical cavities, coupled by a common mirror. We demonstrate that one can independently choose both the power of the output beam-through...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE photonics technology letters 2004-02, Vol.16 (2), p.365-367
Main Authors: Badilita, V., Carlin, J.-F., Ilegems, M., Brunner, M., Verschaffelt, G., Panajotov, K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Distributed Bragg reflectors
Electric potential
Holes
Indium gallium arsenide
Joining
Optical control
Optical coupling
Optical polarization
Photonics
Polarization
Pulse measurements
Surface emitting lasers
Switching
Vertical cavity surface emission lasers
Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers
Voltage
Voltage control
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Summary:We report a novel three-contact vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) for use in polarization-sensitive optical applications. The device consists of two vertical cavities, coupled by a common mirror. We demonstrate that one can independently choose both the power of the output beam-through the current in the first cavity-and the polarization state-through the bias applied to the second cavity. The control of the polarization state is performed with a control voltage in the range -2 to 0 V. Within this interval, the structure exhibits a bistable behavior. We present the very first experimental proof of nonthermal, electrically induced polarization switching in coupled-cavities VCSELs.
ISSN:1041-1135
1941-0174
DOI:10.1109/LPT.2003.821067