Features of vectorial modes in phase-coupled VCSEL arrays: experiments and theory

Optical vortices and vortex solitons

“…In the former case, the stable domain walls appear as being trapped in the beam, while in the latter case the cavity solitons perform a uniform rotary motion along the crater of a doughnut-shaped holding beam (Barland, Branbilla, Columbo, Furfaro, Giudici, Hachair, Kheradmand, Lugiato, Maggipinto, Tissoni, and Tredicce [2003]). Micro-cavities offer novel possibilities for the cavity soliton generation and control (Barland, Tredicce, Branbilla, Lugiato, Balles, Giudici, Maggipinto, Spinelli, Tissoni, Knödl, Miller, and Jäger [2002]; Debernardi, Bava, di Sopra, and Willemsen [2003]; Maggipinto, Brambilla, and Firth [2003]; Vahala [2003]), and the examples include the spontaneous generation of the "optical vortex crystals" (Scheuer and Orenstein [1999]). …”

Phase synchronization and polarization ordering of globally coupled oscillators

“…Indeed, it is possible to have states in which the global phases are synchronized despite a misaligned polarization configuration. Such states have been observed experimentally in VCSEL arrays [14]. Moreover, polarization dynamics play an important role in the synchronization of master-slave VCSEL configurations, and polarization encoding has recently been proposed for high bit-rate encryption in optical communications [15].…”

“…Another example is a ring laser where any localized change in the refraction index breaks the invariance along the ring, introducing the same coupling between the two counterpropagating modes [19] and setting a preferential phase relationship between them. C is the strength of the global coupling which in laser arrays may be induced by external reflections (e.g., by placing a reflection at the common reflector of the array [20]) or by a common active medium [14]. We introduce A j ± = Q j ± exp͑i j ± ͒.…”

Polarization modes in long-wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and VCSEL-arrays

“…This high symmetry leads to unpredicted polarization state and polarization switching of nominally perfectly symmetric VCSEL structures [1], which complicates their use with polarization-sensitive optical elements. Polarization properties of VCSELs emitting at short wavelength (800-1000nm) have been extensively studied in single devices [2] and in coupled VCSEL arrays [3], [4]. The emitted beam of VCSELs grown on common [001] substrates is generally reported to be linearly polarized along the preferential crystal direction [110] or [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10], see ref.…”

“…Investigations of polarization modes in VCSEL-arrays [3], [4] and corresponding models using the concept of photonic crystals [3] ave been also reported. In contrast with solitary VCSELs, phased-locked VCSEL-arrays were reported to have excellent polarization stability [4].…”