Title :
Theoretical analysis of polarization bistability in vertical cavity surface emitting semiconductor lasers
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Electron. Eng., Hong Kong Univ., Hong Kong
fDate :
6/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The polarization bistability of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers under external optical injection is analyzed theoretically. It is found that on the condition where the optical gain is blue-shifted relative to the cavity mode, the bistable characteristics of VCSEL´s can be improved significantly: (1) low optical power of the external injection light is required, (2) the influence of self-heating effects is minimized, and (3) wide bistable hysteresis loop width can be maintained. Furthermore, it is also shown that the reflectivity of Bragg reflectors should also be optimized to improve the performance of VCSEL´s as bistable switches
Keywords :
electro-optical switches; laser cavity resonators; laser modes; laser theory; optical bistability; reflectivity; semiconductor device models; semiconductor lasers; spectral line shift; surface emitting lasers; Bragg reflectors; bistable characteristics; bistable switches; blue-shifted; cavity mode; external injection light; external optical injection; low optical power; optical gain; polarization bistability; theoretical analysis; vertical cavity surface emitting semiconductor lasers; wide bistable hysteresis loop width; Laser modes; Optical bistability; Optical devices; Optical feedback; Optical modulation; Optical polarization; Semiconductor laser arrays; Stimulated emission; Surface emitting lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
