Ultrafast field-polarization dynamics in an optically pumped semiconductor microcavity laser

Summary form only given. The polarization properties of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL) originate in the change of electron total angular momentum J/sub z/ projected along the vertical axis for transitions from the conduction to the valence band. For quantum wells, J/sub z/=/spl plusmn/1/2 for the conduction band, and J/sub z/=/spl plusmn/3/2 for the heavy hole valence band, the highest energy valence band in unstrained quantum wells. The dipole allowed transitions are between J/sub z/=-1/2 and J/sub z/=-3/2 producing right circularly polarized light and between J/sub z/=+1/2 and J/sub z/=+3/2 producing left circularly polarized light. In CW, electrically pumped VCSELs, polarization states and fluctuations are well described by a model based on these transitions (San Miguel et al, 1995). We are investigating the polarization properties of VCSELs optically pumped with ultrashort pulses (<1 ps) which allows us to control the relative population of the angular momentum states and monitor the development of the intensity, noise, and correlations of the polarized-modes as a function of time.