Polarization state selection and stability in a laser with a polarization-isotropic resonator; an example of no lasing despite inversion above threshold

Abraham, N. B.; Arimondo, E.; Miguel, M. San

doi:10.1016/0030-4018(95)00151-w

Cited by 50 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…These two ingredients can compete or be complementary, their relative importance depending on the type of laser. Different atomic gas lasers emit linearly, circularly, or elliptically polarized light, and such polarization states have been identified with different atomic or molecular optical transitions [22]- [31]. The effect of cavity anisotropies has also been characterized for gas lasers [20].…”

Section: A Model For Polarization Dynamics In Vcsel'smentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When the zero eigenvalue becomes nonzero, thus stabilizing or destabilizing a given steady state. To determine the eigenvalues of (30), we set (31) The resulting third-order polynomial for is (32) where the upper sign holds for the stability of the linearlypolarized solution, while the lower sign holds for the stability of the linearly -polarized one. The stability of the linearly polarized solutions, is then, strongly determined by the zerothorder term of (32).…”

Section: Polarization States and Their Stability For Isotropic Gainmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Polarization properties of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Martín-Regalado

Prati

Miguel

et al. 1997

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

507

322

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Polarization-state selection, polarization-state dynamics, and polarization switching of a quantum-well verticalcavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) for the lowest order transverse spatial mode of the laser is explored using a recently developed model that incorporates material birefringence, the saturable dispersion characteristic of semiconductor physics, and the sensitivity of the transitions in the material to the vector character of the electric field amplitude. Three features contribute to the observed linearly polarized states of emission: linear birefringence, linear gain or loss anisotropies, and an intermediate relaxation rate for imbalances in the populations of the magnetic sublevels. In the absence of either birefringence or saturable dispersion, the gain or loss anisotropies dictate stability for the linearly polarized mode with higher net gain; hence, switching is only possible if the relative strength of the net gain for the two modes is reversed. When birefringence and saturable dispersion are both present, there are possibilities of bistability, monostrability, and dynamical instability, including switching by destabilization of the mode with the higher gain to loss ratio in favor of the weaker mode. We compare our analytical and numerical results with recent experimental results on bistability and switchings caused by changes in the injection current and changes in the intensity of an injected optical signal.

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Section: A Model For Polarization Dynamics In Vcsel'smentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Polarization States and Their Stability For Isotropic Gainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polarization properties of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Martín-Regalado

Prati

Miguel

et al. 1997

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

507

322

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Next, let us construct the Hamiltonian describing the atoms. The unperturbed (atomic) and interaction (atom + field) parts of the Hamiltonian in the atomic coordinate system and circular basis (figure 2(a)) take the following form: Transforming the Hamiltonian to the Cartesian basis in the atomic coordinate system 5 , the interaction part of the 5 In general, this procedure presents a problem because it is not always possible to define |x = (|+ + |− )/ √ 2 and |y = i(|− − |+ )/ √ 2 states even when frequencies of the CP fields are equal [18]. Fortunately, this is not the case for our system, in which |− and |+ states can be combined giving |x and |y states.…”

Section: Theory For Arbitrary Magnetic Field In a Class C Cascade Lasermentioning

confidence: 99%

Polarization dynamics of two-photon and cascade lasers in the presence of an arbitrarily directed magnetic field

Kul'minskii

Gauthier

Vilaseca

et al. 2003

J. Opt. B: Quantum Semiclass. Opt.

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We study theoretically the polarization dynamics of a new type of quantum oscillator that is based on the two-photon stimulated emission process in the presence of a magnetic field of arbitrary orientation. Both cases of cascade (small intermediate-state atomic detuning) and two-photon (large atomic detuning) lasers are considered. The primary goal of this work is to investigate the origin of recently observed polarization instabilities in a two-photon laser (Pfister et al 2001 Phys. Rev. Lett. 86 4512) using a highly simplified model. It is found that the two-photon laser can emit linearly polarized radiation with its plane of polarization orthogonal to the direction of the magnetic field at small magnetic field strengths. It can also emit elliptically polarized radiation over a large range of magnetic field strengths and orientations. When the magnetic field deviates from a direction perpendicular to the laser cavity axis periodic instabilities can appear through a Hopf bifurcation. This dynamic regime could have contributed to the polarization instabilities observed in the experiment.

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“…Theoretically, polarization instability was predicted in [Abraham et al, 1995[Abraham et al, , 1996May et al, 1996;Svirina, 1994]. In [Svirina, 1994] this phenomenon appears as spontaneous pulsations of intensities, ellipticities and azimuths of two emitted waves in lasers with weakly anisotropic cavities where active medium and empty cavity anisotropies are comparable in value.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%