Depolarization of the lasing emission from CW double-heterostructure junction lasers

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · IEEE J. Quant. Electron., v. QE-11, no. 7, pp. 489-494

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/JQE.1975.1068663· OSTI ID:4165612

Paoli, T L

Measurements of the polarization characteristics of the optical emission from cw Al/sub z/Ga/sub 1-z/As-Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As double-heterostructure (DH) junction lasers are reported. Spectral observations demonstrate that in many lasers the lasing emission is not linearly polarized as expected from the conventional electromagnetic (EM) theory of the laser. A small but measurable field component is observed orthogonal to the main emission. In some lasers, the optical field is shown to be elliptically polarized, while in other devices the polarization state is more complex. The observed depolarization of the lasing modes is attributed to a strain-induced anisotropy in the dielectric properties of the laser waveguide. The anisotropic configuration which leads to elliptically polarized light is analyzed in detail and is shown to be equal to a pure shear in a plane parallel to the junction. (auth)

• Research Organization: Bell Telephone Labs., Murray Hill, NJ
• NSA Number: NSA-33-007219
• OSTI ID: 4165612
• Journal Information: IEEE J. Quant. Electron., v. QE-11, no. 7, pp. 489-494, Journal Name: IEEE J. Quant. Electron., v. QE-11, no. 7, pp. 489-494; ISSN IEJQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS-- DEPOLARIZATION
420300* --Engineering--Lasers
ALUMINIUM ARSENIDES
EMISSION SPECTRA
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
N42210* --Engineering--Facilities & Equipment--Lasers
WAVEGUIDES