Polarization switching and synchronization of mutually coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers

Polarization switching （PS） dynamics and synchronization performances of two mutually coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers （VCSELs） are studied theoretically in this paper. A group of dimensionless rate equations is derived to describe our model. While analysing the PS characteristics, we focus on the effects of coupling rate and frequency detuning regarding different mutual injection types. The results indicate that the x-mode injection defers the occurrence of PS, while the y-mode injection leads the PS to occur at a lower current. Strong enough polarization-selective injection can suppress the PS. Moreover, if frequency detuning is considered, the effects of polarization-selective mutual injection will be weakened. To evaluate the synchronization performance, the correlation coefficients and output dynamics of VCSELs with both pure mode and mixed mode polarizations are given. It is found that performance of complete synchronization is sensitive to the frequency mismatch but it is little affected by mixed mode polarizations, which is opposite to the case of injection-locking synchronization.

Polarization-Stable 980 nm Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers with Diamond-Shaped Oxide Aperture

Polarization-stable 980 nm oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with 3 μm diamond-shaped aper- ture are fabricated by comprehensively utilizing the anisotropic properties of wet etching and wet nitrogen oxida- tion of Ⅲ-Ⅴ semiconductor materials. Polarization-stable operation along the major axis of the diamond-shaped oxide aperture with 11 dB orthogonal polarization suppression ratio is achieved in a temperature range of 15-55℃ from the threshold to 4 mA.

Quantum dot vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers covering the ‘green gap’

Semiconductor vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers(VCSELs)with wavelengths from 491.8 to 565.7 nm,covering most of the‘green gap’,are demonstrated.For these lasers,the same quantum dot(QD)active region was used,whereas the wavelength was controlled by adjusting the cavity length,which is difficult for edge-emitting lasers.Compared with reports in the literature for green VCSELs,our lasers have set a few world records for the lowest threshold,longest wavelength and continuous-wave(CW)lasing at room temperature.The nanoscale QDs contribute dominantly to the low threshold.The emitting wavelength depends on the electron–photon interaction or the coupling between the active layer and the optical field,which is modulated by the cavity length.The green VCSELs exhibit a low-thermal resistance of 915 kW^(−1),which benefits the CW lasing.Such VCSELs are important for small-size,low power consumption full-color displays and projectors.

Time-delay signature concealment of polarizationresolved chaos outputs in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with variable-polarization filtered optical feedback

Through employing permutation entropy and the self-correlation function, the time-delay signature （TDS） of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser （VCSEL） with variable-polarization filtered optical feedback （VPFOF） is evaluated theoretically. The work shows that the feedback rate η, polarizer angle Op, and filter bandwidth A have an obvious influence on the TDS. The evolution maps of the TDS in parameter space （η, A） and （ηθp） are simulated for searching the chaos with weak TDS. Furthermore, compared with a VCSEL with polarization-preserved filtered optical feedback and a VCSEL with variable-polarization mirror optical feedback, this VPFOF-VCSEL shows superiority in TDS suppression.

Light-current characteristics of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with external optical feedback

The influence of external optical feedback （OFB） on the light-current characteristics of the vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers （VCSELs） was investigated theoretically and experimentally. By calculating the OFB sensitivity parameter, the OFB sensibility of the VCSELs was compared with the edge emitting lasers. Based on the compound cavity theory, the light-current characteristic parameters of the VCSELs with external OFB, such as the threshold current and the slope efficiency, were calculated. The experimental results indicated that the threshold current of the VCSELs with different DBR refleetivities decreased to different degrees, accompanied with a decrease of slope efficiency when under 10% feedback ratio of the external OFB, which is in good agreement with the theoretical calculation.

Stable anticipation synchronization in mutually coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers system

Two vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers（VCSELs） are mutually coupled through a partially transparent mirror （PTM） placed in the pathway. The PTM plays the role of external mirror, which controls the feedback strength and coupling strength. We numerically simulate this system by establishing a visible SIMULINK model. The results demonstrate that the anticipation synchronization is achieved and it can tolerate some extent frequency detuning. Moreover, the system shows similar chaos-pass filtering effect on unidireetionally coupled system even both VCSELs are modulated. This system allows simultaneously bidirectional secure message transmission on public channels.

Mode hopping and polarization switching of mutually coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We perform a theoretical study on the polarization-resolved compound lasing mode （CLM） of two mutually coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers （VCSELs）. Different solutions of CLMs are derived though stability analysis of the spin-flip model. The dynamical evolvements of CLMs with the existence of polarization degrees of freedom are also charactered. The most stable CLM with the smallest carrier density tend to be excited, since the gain needed for this mode to emit is the lowest. In the given system, varying values of injection rate or birefringence, etc., will change the generation of the preferred CLMs in the two polarization directions, and thus influence the polarization switching （PS） characteristics. Thus, hoppings between CLMs are also companied by PSs. Through mapping of average power in the parameter space, the influences of coupling rate and anisotropy parameters （linear dichroism and linear birefringence） on PS and hopping between CLMs are discussed.

Analysis of optical coupling behavior in twodimensional implant-defined coherently coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays

Optical coupling behavior and associated effects in two-dimensional implant-defined coherently coupled verticalcavity surface-emitting laser(VCSEL) arrays are studied via both experiments and theoretical calculations.Experiments show that optical coupling between array elements can enhance the array's output power.Additionally, optical coupling via leaky optical fields can provide extra optical gain for the array elements, which can then reduce the thresholds of these elements. Elements can even be pumped without current injection to emit light by receiving a strong leaky optical field from other array elements. Optical coupling can also cause unusual phenomena: the central elements in large-area coherently coupled VCSEL arrays that lase prior to the outer elements when the arrays are biased, or the average injection current required for each element to lase, which is much lower than the threshold for a single VCSEL. Theoretical calculations are performed to explain the experimental

A New Process for Improving Performance of VCSELs

A new process method is proposed to improve the light output power of GaAs vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers （VCSELs）. The VCSELs with open-annulus-distributed holes have a light output power 1.34 times higher than those with ring trenches. The 14μm-aperture devices have a light output power higher than 10mW and have a maximum of 12.48mW at 29.6mA. In addition,open-annulus-distributed holes offer bridges for current injection,so the connecting Ti-Au metal between the ohmic contact and bonding pad does not have to cross the ring trench, and it therefore would not cause the connecting metal to be broken. These VCSELs also show high-temperature operation capabilities,and they have a maximum output power of 8mW even at an operation temperature of up to 60℃.

Characteristics of selective oxidation during the fabrication of vertical cavity surface emitting laser

Taking into account oxidation temperature, N2 carrier gas flow, and the geometry of the mesa structures this paper investigates the characteristics of selective oxidation during the fabrication of the vertical cavity surface emitting laser （VCSEL） in detail. Results show that the selective oxidation follows a law which differs from any reported in the literature. Below 435℃ selective oxidation of Al0.98Ga0.02As follows a linear growth law for the two mesa structures employed in VCSEL. Above 435℃ approximately increasing parabolic growth is found, which is influenced by the geometry of the mesa structures. Theoretical analysis on the difference between the two structures for the initial oxidation has been performed, which demonstrates that the geometry of the mesa structures does influence on the growth rate of oxide at higher temperatures.

Rate-equation-based VCSEL thermal model and simulation

In this paper, we present a simple thermal model of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser （VCSEL） light-current （L1） characteristics based on the rate-equation. The model can be implemented in conventional SPICE-like circuit simulators, including HSPICE, and be used to simulate the key features of VCSEL. The results compare favorably with experimental data from a device reported in the literature. The simple empirical model is especially suitable for Computer Aided Design （CAD）, and greatly simplifies the design of optical communication systems.

850 nm垂直腔面发射激光器的辐射效应和仿真

为了探究850 nm垂直腔面发射激光器(Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser,VCSEL)在空间辐射环境中的退化规律与机理,开展了3 MeV和10 MeV质子辐照实验,获得了光输出功率和阈值电流等参数随质子注量的退化规律,同时发现光输出功率和阈值电流在相同位移损伤剂量(Displacement Damage Dose,DDD)下的退化程度基本一致。在实验的基础上使用Silvaco软件进行建模与仿真计算,结果与实验结果具有较高一致性,在仿真模型中提取了陷阱密度、施主与受主电离密度、镜面损失、辐射复合速率和光子数等微观参数,在实验规律基础上深入探究了参数退化规律与辐射损伤机制。仿真结果发现这些微观参数随质子注量增加均有不同程度的变化。该结果对于进一步深入理解VCSEL退化机制具有重要意义的参考价值。

Nonlinear dynamics of 1550 nm VCSELs subject to polarization-preserved optical feedback and orthogonal optical injection

Based on spin-flip model （SFM）, the nonlinear dynamics of 1550nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers （VCSELs） subject to polarization-preserved optical feedback （PPOF） and orthogonal optical injection （OOI） are theoretically investigated. The results show that two linear polarization （LP） modes can be simultaneously stimulated and polarization switching （PS） can be observed, which is different from the case that only y LP mode exists in a VCSEL with PPOF. Under the joint action of PPOF and OOI, the two LP modes will exhibit rich dynamical states, such as period one, period two, multi- period and chaos oscillation. Different evolution routes to chaos can be also observed. Moreover, frequency detuning Af（Af=fm fs, wherefn andfs are the center frequencies of free-running master VCSEL and slave VCSEL, respectively） has an obvious influence on the PS. With the increase of the positive frequency detuning PS points shift toward larger injection strengths; meanwhile, a suitable negative frequency demning value makes the injection strength for PS be the lowest.