Polarization properties in the transition from below to above lasing threshold in broad-area vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.81.023819· OSTI ID:21413269

Schulz-Ruhtenberg, M; Babushkin, I V; Loiko, N A; Huang, K F; Ackemann, T ^[1]

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1. Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster, Corrensstrasse 2-4, D-48149 Muenster (Germany)

For highly divergent emission of broad-area vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, a rotation of the polarization direction by up to 90 deg. 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 transition, where it is significantly nonzero during the transition.

• OSTI ID: 21413269
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 81; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION
EQUIPMENT
LASERS
MIRRORS
MOTION
POLARIZATION
PUMPS
RADIATIONS
ROTATION
SURFACES
TENSORS
VECTORS
VISIBLE RADIATION