Wavelength-induced polarization bistability in 1550 nm VCSELs subject to orthogonal optical injection

Abstract

We report on a theoretical and experimental investigation of the bistable behavior of the polarization of longwavelength single-transverse mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) when subject to orthogonal optical injection. We have studied the bistability properties of the polarization switching that appear when changing the master laser wavelength with a fixed master laser power. Two bistable regions are found for polarization switchings appearing at short and long wavelengths. The directions of the obtained hysteresis cycles are in agreement with the experimental results. The widths of both bistable regions are also found to be similar and nearly independent of the injected power. The width of the region where polarization switching takes place is shown to increase as the injected power is increased. A good overall qualitative agreement is found between our theoretical and experimental results.

Correlation properties and time-resolved dynamics of linear polarizations emitted by single-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers subject to orthogonal optical injection

“…Studies of nonlinear dynamics of optically injected semiconductor lasers have been extended to VCSELs [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] since these devices offer additional degrees of freedom, like the presence of multiple transverse modes and the direction of the emitted polarization, when compared with their edge-emitting counterparts. The behavior of these systems not only includes the previously mentioned dynamical regimes but also polarization switching (PS) and optical bistability [16][17][18][19][20].…”

“…These devices were characterized by small values of birefringence and showed PS in absence of optical injection. Analysis of 1550 nm wavelength single transverse mode VCSELs subject to orthogonal optical injection have also shown limit cycle and period doubling dynamics, injection locking, irregular behavior [13][14][15], and bistability [18][19][20]. These long-wavelength devices were characterized by very large values of the birefringence parameter and by emission in a single linear polarization over the whole bias current range in absence of optical injection.…”

Power-induced polarization switching and bistability characteristics in 1550-nm VCSELs subjected to orthogonal optical injection

“…[23,24] For short-wavelength VCSELs emitting at 850 nm, the PS and PB under orthogonal optical injection have been investigated experimentally and theoretically. [32][33][34][35][36] Recently, much more attention has been paid to exploring the PS and PB in long-wavelength VCSELs emitting at 1550 nm [37][38][39][40][41] since 1550-nm VCSELs are power-efficient devices in local and access networks. [42] Generally, PS (PB) between two polarization modes of VCSELs under orthogonal optical injection can be classified as two main categories: one is wavelengthinduced PS (PB) and the other is power-induced PS (PB).…”

“…For the former, the relevant experimental and theoretical results have been reported in detail. [37][38][39][40] However, as for the latter, although some experimental investigations have been conducted, [40,41] the systematic theoretical researches are relatively inadequate.…”

Nonlinear dynamics of polarization switching of a 1550-nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser under orthogonal optical injection

“…Recently, much more attention has been focus on the analysis of nonlinear dynamics in long-wavelength VCSELs emitting at 1550 nm since this waveband VCSELs are low cost optical sources and power efficient devices in local and access networks [14]. Furthermore, for 1550 nm VCSELs subject to orthogonal optical injection, some interesting nonlinear dynamical phenomena have been also studied and reported including PS and PB [15][16][17][18]. However, corresponding detailed theoretical analysis is still scare.…”