Photonic generation of high-frequency microwave signals utilizing a multi-transverse-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser subject to two-frequency orthogonaloptical injection

Abstract

We study photonic microwave signal generation obtained when single-and multi-transverse-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are subject to two-frequency orthogonal optical injection. Our calculations show that broadly tunable microwave signals can be obtained in these systems. The response of the multi-transversemode VCSEL is enhanced with respect to that obtained with a similar single-transverse-mode VCSEL subject to the same two-frequency orthogonal optical injection. The extra degree of freedom given by the multi-transverse-mode operation of the VCSEL under two-frequency orthogonal optical injection enhances the performance of the photonic microwave generation system, because the higher-order transverse mode is excited with a much larger amplitude than that of the fundamental transverse mode. Periodic oscillations are obtained for a very wide range of frequency detunings between the optical injections and transverse modes. A relative maximum of the microwave signal amplitude is obtained when the frequency of one of the optical injections is very close to the frequency of the orthogonally polarized fundamental mode of the VCSEL. Periodic oscillations are demonstrated for symmetric and asymmetric values of the injection strengths. Wide tuning ranges, extended into the THz band, are obtained in our system. Our results show that the proposed microwave signal generation mechanism is independent of the polarization of the master lasers.

Characteristics of microwave photonic signal generation using vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with optical injection and feedback

“…Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) have many desired features, such as circular beam profile, single-longitudinal mode operation, ease of fabrication, low power consumption and low-cost, therefore could be an excellent candidate for microwave photonic signal generation [14]. Quirce et al predict that microwave photonic signal can be generated using a multi-mode VCSEL subject to two frequency orthogonal optical injection [15]. In 2015, 20 GHz microwave photonic signal was obtained using double-beam orthogonal optical injection in a single-transverse-mode VCSEL [16].…”

Broad tunable photonic microwave generation based on period-one dynamics of optical injection vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

“…The use of off-the-shelf VCSELs therefore offers a method to achieve low-cost and low power consumption of photonic microwave generation. In recent years, photonic microwave generation using VCSEL has drawn a great deal of attention [18][19][20][21][22][23]. More than 20 GHz photonic microwave signal has been obtained using dual-beam orthogonal optical injected in a single-transverse-mode VCSEL [23], however, no significant reduction of the linewidth is achieved by using double injection because the linewidth is mainly determined by the phase fluctuations of the two master lasers.…”

High-frequency signal generation using 1550 nm VCSEL subject to two-frequency optical injection

“…In this second experiment the polarization of the injected light is orthogonal to that of the free-running slave VCSEL. The theoretical study of this case has shown that the microwave signal generation mechanism is independent of the polarization of the master lasers [15]. Our results show that the VCSEL can emit in the two master laser frequencies.…”

“…Very recently, microwave generation using dual-beam optical injection in semiconductor lasers has also been investigated [6], [11][12][13][14][15]. Microwave signals with frequencies corresponding to the frequency difference between the master lasers can be generated [6], [11], [14].…”

“…Comparison of the performance with a similar P1 oscillation signal generated with single optical injection shows that a significant reduction of the linewidth is achieved when using the 'double injection locking' scheme due to the phaselocking and high coherence associated to stable injection locking states [13]. Similar photonic microwave generation using VCSELs instead a DFB laser has also been recently considered in a theoretical way [14,15]. Single and multitransverse mode VCSELs subject to two-frequency optical injection can generate high-frequency microwave signals [14].…”