Polarization behavior of birefringent multitransverse mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Author

Valle, A. ; Pesquera, L. ; Shore, K.A.

Author_Institution

Fac. de Ciencias, Inst. de Fisica de Cantabria, Santander, Spain

Volume

9

Issue

5

fYear

1997

fDate

5/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

557

Lastpage

559

Abstract

An analysis has been undertaken of the effect of birefringence on the selection of polarization states of a weakly index guided vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) supporting both a fundamental and a first-order transverse mode. It is shown that for small index steps polarization switching due to spatial-hole burning effects can occur. For larger index steps it is found that higher order modes can emerge which are orthogonally polarized to the dominant polarization of the fundamental mode.

Keywords

birefringence; laser cavity resonators; laser modes; laser theory; light polarisation; optical hole burning; refractive index; semiconductor lasers; surface emitting lasers; birefringence; birefringent multitransverse mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers; dominant polarization; first-order transverse mode; fundamental mode; higher order modes; index steps; orthogonally polarized; polarization behavior; polarization states; polarization switching; small index steps; spatial-hole burning effects; weakly index guided vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser; Birefringence; Charge carrier processes; Laser modes; Optical polarization; Optical refraction; Optical variables control; Semiconductor lasers; Stimulated emission; Surface emitting lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.588094

Filename

588094