Polarization properties in the transition from below to above lasing threshold in broad-area vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers
Authors
- Schulz-Ruhtenberg, Malte
- Babushkin, Ihar
- Loiko, Natalia Aleksandrovna
- Ackemann, Thorsten
- Huang, Kai
2010 Mathematics Subject Classification
- 78A60 35R60 37K50
2008 Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme
- 42.55.Px, 42.60.Jf, 42.25.Ja, 05.40.-a
Keywords
- semiconductor lasers, light polarization, bifurcation, stochastic PDE
DOI
Abstract
For highly divergent emission of broad-area vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) a rotation of the polarization direction by up to 90 degrees occurs when the pump rate approaches the lasing threshold. Well below threshold the polarization is parallel to the direction of the transverse wave vector and is determined by the transmissive properties of the Bragg reflectors that form the cavity mirrors. In contrast, near-threshold and above-threshold emission is more affected by the reflective properties of the reflectors and is predominantly perpendicular to the direction of transverse wave vectors. Two qualitatively different types of polarization transition are demonstrated: an abrupt transition, where the light polarization vanishes at the point of the transition, and a smooth one, where it is significantly nonzero during the transition.
Appeared in
- Phys. Rev. A, 81 (2010) pp. 023819/1--023819/11.
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