Polarization switching in single-transverse-mode VCSELs: thermal shift and nonlinear semiconductor dynamics

We have shown that polarization switching in single-transverse mode VCSELs can in general be induced in two independent ways. The linearly polarized states of a VCSEL are associated to a phase-locked state of the two circularly polarized components of the optical field. Polarization switching occurs associated to the exchange of stability of these phase-locked states through amplitude-phase coupling, which can be achieved by either increasing the injection current at constant detuning or by scanning the detuning while keeping the injection current fixed.