Polarization Bistability in 1550 nm Wavelength Single-Mode Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers Subject to Orthogonal Optical Injection

• Published in: IEEE journal of selected topics in quantum electronics Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 895 - 902
• Main Authors: Valle, A., Gomez-Molina, M., Pesquera, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 2008; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Bistability; Bistable laser diodes; Fluctuation; Hysteresis; injection locking; Laser modes; Laser transitions; Lasers; Optical bistability; Optical polarization; optical signal processing; Optical surface waves; Polarization; polarization switching (PS); Power lasers; Surface emitting lasers; Surface waves; Switching; Vertical cavity surface emission lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers; vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL); Wavelengths
• ISSN: 1077-260X; 1558-4542
• DOI: 10.1109/JSTQE.2008.918044

In this paper, we report on an experimental investigation of the bistable behavior of a 1550 nm single transverse and polarization mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) when subjected to orthogonal optical injection. As the master laser wavelength is scanned near the resonance wavelength of the depressed linearly polarized fundamental mode, and for a fixed injected power, the VCSEL exhibits two successive polarization switchings (PSs). Both PSs exhibit bistable regions in such a way that a pure-frequency-induced polarization bistability is found. The width of both bistable regions has been measured as a function of the injected power and for different values of the VCSEL current. While the injection power is lesser than a certain value, the hysteresis width fluctuates around a constant level. Further increase of the injection power leads to a smaller constant value of the hysteresis width. The value of that transition value is independent of the VCSEL current. Power-induced polarization bistability - by fixing the master laser wavelength - is found near the transition value. Clockwise and anticlockwise power-hysteresis cycles are observed for short and long master laser wavelengths, respectively.