Mapping of the Dynamics Induced by Orthogonal Optical Injection in Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (original) (raw)
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IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 2007
In this paper, we report on theoretical and experimental investigation on polarization and transverse mode behavior of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) under orthogonal optical injection as a function of the injection strength and of the detuning between the injection frequency and the free-running frequency of the solitary laser. As the injection strength increases the VCSEL switches to the master laser polarization. We find that the injection power necessary to obtain such polarization switching is minimum at two different values of the frequency detuning: the first one corresponds to the frequency splitting between the two linearly polarized fundamental transverse modes, and the second one appears at a larger positive frequency detuning, close to the frequency difference between the first-order and the fundamental transverse modes of the solitary VCSEL. We show theoretically that both the depth and the frequency corresponding to the second minimum increase when the relative losses between the two transverse modes decrease. Bistability of the polarization switching is obtained for the whole frequency detuning range. Such a bistability is found for the fundamental mode only or for both transverse modes, depending on the value of the detuning. The theoretical and experimental optical spectra are in good agreement showing that the first-order transverse mode appears locked to the external injection.
Physical Review E, 2009
We report theoretically on the interplay between polarization switching and bifurcations to nonlinear dynamics in a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser ͑VCSEL͒ subject to orthogonal optical injection. Qualitatively different bifurcation scenarios leading to polarization switching are found and mapped out in the plane of the injection parameters, i.e., the frequency detuning vs injection strength plane. A Hopf bifurcation mechanism on the two-polarization-mode solution determines the injection-locking boundaries and influences polarization switching induced by optical injection. We furthermore report on a torus bifurcation emerging from a two-linearly polarized ͑LP͒ mode time-periodic dynamics before polarization switching and injection locking appear. It corresponds to an interesting combination of relaxation oscillation dynamics in the x-LP mode together with wave mixing dynamics in the injected y-LP mode. In agreement with recent experiments, we unveil a period-doubling route to chaos that involves both VCSEL orthogonal LP modes. The corresponding region of chaotic dynamics coincides with abrupt changes in the polarization switching boundaries in the plane of the injection parameters.
Optical and Quantum Electronics, 2006
Bistability as well as dynamics associated to polarization switching in a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) submitted to orthogonal optical injection from an external master laser are investigated. Intensity-polarization switching bistability is studied by increasing and decreasing the intensity of the injected beam and for a fixed frequency detuning, i.e. the frequency offset between master and the free running VCSEL. Depending on the frequency detuning, bistable switching is experimentally found to occur with or without injection locking of the fundamental mode to the master laser frequency. For large positive detuning, injection locking of the first-order transverse mode with a strong depression of the fundamental mode has been observed. The case of frequency – polarization switching bistability, i.e. when the frequency detuning is first decreased and then increased for a fixed injected power, has also been theoretically analyzed. Qualitative comparison with previous experimental work is presented for the dependence of the width of the bistable switching region on the injection strength level. Finally we show an experimental result of complicated dynamics including period doubling route to chaos that accompany polarization switching and which motivates future theoretical investigations.
Optics Express, 2010
We report a first experimental study of the nonlinear dynamics appearing in a 1550 nm single-mode VCSEL subject to parallel and to orthogonal optical injection. For the first time to our knowledge we report experimentally measured stability maps identifying the boundaries between regions of different nonlinear dynamics for both cases of polarized injection. A rich variety of nonlinear behaviours, including periodic (limit cycle, period doubling) and chaotic dynamics have been experimentally observed.
Optics letters, 2016
Polarization switching in a long-wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) under parallel optical injection is analyzed in a theoretical and experimental way. For the first time, to our knowledge, we report experimentally a state in which injection locking of the parallel polarization and excitation of the free-running orthogonal polarization of the VCSEL are simultaneously obtained. We obtain very simple analytical expressions that describe both linear polarizations. We show that the power of both linear polarizations depend linearly on the injected power in such a way that the total power emitted by the VCSEL is constant. We perform a linear stability analysis of this solution to characterize the region of parameters in which it can be observed. Our measurements qualitatively confirm the previous theoretical predictions.
IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 2009
In this paper, we summarize our recent results on nonlinear polarization-and transverse-mode dynamics of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) induced by optical injection (OI) or current modulation. Due to the surface emission and cylindrical symmetry, VCSELs lack strong polarization anisotropy and may undergo polarization switching (PS). Furthermore, VCSELs may emit light in multiple transverse modes. This provides new features to the rich nonlinear dynamics induced in VCSELs by an external perturbation. We demonstrate for the case of orthogonal OI that new Hopf bifurcation on a two-polarization-mode solution delimits the injection locking (IL) region and that PS and IL of first-order transverse mode lead to a new resonance tongue for large positive detunings. Similarly, the underlying polarization-mode competition leads to chaotic-like behavior in case of gain switching and the presence of two transverse modes additionally reduces the possibility of regular dynamics.
Journal of the Optical Society of America B, 2011
We present an experimental and theoretical study of the polarization and time-resolved nonlinear dynamics of a long-wavelength single-mode linearly polarized vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) subject to orthogonal optical injection. Special attention is paid to the correlation properties of both linear polarizations emitted by the VCSEL. We measure simultaneous time traces of both linearly polarized output signals for several values of the bias current, the strength of the optical injection, and the frequency detuning between master and the free-running VCSEL. Different dynamical regimes, including periodic, period doubling, and irregular dynamics, are observed for both polarizations. For positive frequency detuning we usually find that the orthogonal polarization is the only polarization that contributes to the dynamics of the total power. Only for large values of the bias current and for small values of the optical injection strength, near the border of the periodic region, have we found correlated periodic dynamics in both linear polarizations. For negative frequency detuning we find anticorrelated dynamics in both linear polarizations. The average and dispersion of the time between consecutive pulses that appear in the anticorrelated regime increase with the injected power. The irregular dynamics, characterized by broadened power spectra, is related to large values of the dispersion of the time between pulses. A good overall qualitative agreement is found between our theoretical and experimental results.
Two-frequency injection on a multimode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser
Optics Express, 2011
We have studied experimentally effects of two-frequency optical injection on a multimode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). The injected signal comes from another VCSEL. Polarization switching (PS) with and without frequency locking occurs for relatively small frequency detuning. Outside the regime of polarization switching, the VCSEL demonstrates two types of instabilities. The instability regions and boundaries of PS of each transverse mode are mapped in the parameter plane of frequency detuning versus injected power.