Polarization characteristics, control, and modulation of vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers

Kent D. Choquette; Kevin L. Lear; Richard P. Schneider Jr.; Ronald E. Leibenguth; Jeffrey J. Figiel; Sean P. Kilcoyne; Mary Hagerott Crawford; John C. Zolper

doi:10.1117/12.208441

28 April 1995 Polarization characteristics, control, and modulation of vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers

Kent D. Choquette, Kevin L. Lear, Richard P. Schneider Jr., Ronald E. Leibenguth, Jeffrey J. Figiel, Sean P. Kilcoyne, Mary Hagerott Crawford, John C. Zolper

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2382, Laser Diodes and Applications; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.208441
Event: Photonics West '95, 1995, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

The gain-dependent polarization properties of vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers and methods for polarization control and modulation are discussed. The partitioning of power between the two orthogonal eigen polarizations is shown to depend upon the relative spectral alignment of the nondegenerate polarization cavity resonances with the laser gain spectrum. A dominant polarization can thus be maintained by employing a blue-shifted offset of the peak laser gain relative to the cavity resonance wavelength. Alternatively, the polarization can be controlled through use of anisotropic transverse cavity geometries. The orthogonal eigen polarizations are also shown to enable polarization modulation. By exploiting polarization switching transitions in cruciform lasers, polarization modulation of the fundamental mode up to 50 MHz is demonstrated. At lower modulation frequencies, complementary digital polarized output or frequency doubling of the polarized output is obtained. Control and manipulation of vertical-cavity laser polarization may prove valuable for present and future applications.

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Kent D. Choquette, Kevin L. Lear, Richard P. Schneider Jr., Ronald E. Leibenguth, Jeffrey J. Figiel, Sean P. Kilcoyne, Mary Hagerott Crawford, and John C. Zolper "Polarization characteristics, control, and modulation of vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers", Proc. SPIE 2382, Laser Diodes and Applications, (28 April 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.208441

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