Investigation of polarization properties of VCSELs subject to optical feedback from an extremely short external cavity-part I: theoretical analysis

• Published in: IEEE journal of quantum electronics Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 89 - 101
• Main Authors: Arteaga, M.A., Unold, H.J., Ostermann, J.M., Michalzik, R., Thienpont, H., Panajotov, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.02.2006; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Bistability; Computer simulation; Equations; Exact sciences and technology; Extremely short external cavity; Feedback; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Laser feedback; Laser modes; Laser theory; Lasers; Mathematical models; Mirrors; Nonlinear optics; Optical bistability, multistability and switching, including local field effects; Optical feedback; Optical polarization; Optics; Physics; Polarization; polarization control and stabilization; Polystyrene resins; Semiconductor lasers; laser diodes; Stabilization; Surface emitting lasers; Ultraviolet sources; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers; vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL); Polarization; Digital simulation; Theoretical study; Optical bistability; External cavity; Reflectivity; Vertical cavity laser; Extremely short external cavity; polarization control and stabilization; Semiconductor lasers; Optical feedback; Lasers; Surface emitting lasers; Rate equation; vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL)
• ISSN: 0018-9197; 1558-1713
• DOI: 10.1109/JQE.2005.861622

A two modes rate equation model for vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) subject to optical feedback from an extremely short external cavity (ESEC) is presented. By making use of it we develop a map of bistability to investigate the parametric dependence of polarization properties of VCSELs in such configuration, finding out a periodic dependence of the polarization switching (PS) currents on the ESEC length. By increasing the external mirror reflectivity we can make this periodic dependence stronger and strongly asymmetric providing the possibility to prevent PS for any injection current achieving polarization stabilization in VCSELs. Further numerical simulations with isotropic and non isotropic feedback show how parameters as the compression coefficients, the frequency splitting between the linearly polarized (LP) modes, the differential gain and the top mirror reflection coefficient, affect the map of bistability.