Ultrafast Polarization Switching Dynamics in Vertical-Cavity Surface-EmittingLasers

摘要

The interaction of circularly polarized femtosecond laser pulses with commercialvertical-cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) was studied using a pump-probe configuration in connection with an autocorrelation setup for time-resolving anticipated polarization changes in the VCSEL output. In addition, extensive theoretical modeling was performed to gain greater insights into the physical bases for output polarization in VCSELs. The objective of these efforts was to determine if VCSEL output polarization could be switched on a picosecond time scale, and if the polarization of multiple elements in a VCSEL array could be externally controlled and 'pinned' to a particular desired orientation. The theoretical modeling was completed. Experimental verification of the model could not be carried out because the VCSELs available at the time did not have high enough output power.