Power dissipation in oxide-confined 980-nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We presented 980-nm oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with a 16-μm oxide aperture. Optical power, voltage, and emission wavelength are measured in an ambient temperature range of 5℃ C-80℃. Measurements combined with an empirical model are used to analyse the power dissipation in the device and the physical mechanism contributing to the thermal rollover phenomenon in VCSEL. It is found that the carrier leakage induced selfheating in the active region and the Joule heating caused by the series resistance are the main sources of power dissipation. In addition, carrier leakage induced selfheating increases as the injection current increases, resulting in a rapid decrease of the internal quantum efficiency, which is a dominant contribution to the thermal rollover of the VCSEL at a larger current. Our study provides useful guidelines to design a 980-nm oxide-confined VCSEL for thermal performance enhancement.     

Analysis and optimization of coupling to external cavities in feedback experiments with vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

The feedback strength is a crucial parameter for feedback experiments using semiconductor lasers. In this article, the coupling efficiency of the field of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) to external cavities containing one collimating lens has been analyzed in detail using ABCD-matrix methods. It is found that for a given set of parameters there are two distinct, experimentally realizable positions of the collimating lens which allow for optimal coupling, if the cavity length is sufficiently small. The predictions are verified in experiments using single-transverse-mode VCSELs. The obtained coupling efficiencies exceed 70%.     

Using polarization properties to enhance performance of chaos synchronization communication between vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Enhanced chaos synchronization communication between vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is investigated numerically, by adopting a polarization communication protocol where one polarization mode is used as the chaotic carrier and the orthogonal polarization mode is used as the disturbed signal. The chaos synchronization quality for the receiver laser (RL) and attacker laser (AL) are analyzed in terms of the cross-correlation coefficient. There are two distinct regions of good synchronization quality in the injection parameters space. In the first region, good synchronization quality can be ensured for both the RL and AL. In the second region, only the RL can realize chaos synchronization. We further discuss the security enhancement by comparing the communication performance between RL and AL for injection parameters within the second region. The results show that successful and robust decoding is only achievable for the RL.     

Conceal time-delay signature of chaotic vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers by variable-polarization optical feedback

Time-delay (TD) signatures of chaotic outputs generated by vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are investigated quantitatively by using two proposed estimators, the peak signal to mean ratio (PSMR) calculated based on the auto-correlation function, and the valley signal to mean ratio (VSMR) calculated based on an information-theory-based estimator, the permutation entropy (PE) function. The VCSELs subject to variable-polarization optical feedback (VPOF) are considered, and the effects of polarizer angle, feedback strength, feedback delay and injection current are discussed. When the feedback strength is small, the TD signatures for the fully developed chaotic outputs of VCSELs can be well concealed for all polarizer angles. While for large feedback strength, the TD signatures cannot be concealed for any polarizer angle. However, for moderate feedback strength, the TD signatures of VCSELs with VPOF at intermediate polarizer angles can be better concealed than those of VCSELs with conventional polarization-selected optical feedback. Thus, the VCSELs with VPOF are extremely interesting for the security-enhanced chaotic optical communication systems.     

Chaos dynamics in vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers with polarization-selected optical feedback

We study experimentally and numerically the dynamic states of chaotic oscillations in vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers (VCSELs) with polarization-selected optical feedback. We identify the regimes of fully-developed chaotic states, low-frequency fluctuations (LFFs), and coexistent states of LFFs and stable oscillation for the variations of the bias injection current and the optical feedback ratio. In particular, coexistent states of LFFs and stable oscillations are observed at higher optical feedback ratio and lower bias injection current. We draw maps of dynamic states in the space of the bias injection current and the optical feedback ratio. The qualitative agreement between the theory and the experiment is found.     

Polarization instabilities in a multi-transverse-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser with polarized optical feedback

We have experimentally studied polarization instabilities in the multi-transverse-mode regime of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser subject to polarized optical feedback. A dynamical regime that is similar to the transition from the so called low frequency fluctuation (LFF) to coherence collapse (CC) in the single-transverse-mode VCSEL is found and investigated. The role of higher order transverse modes is to increase the irregularity of the dynamics as shown experimentally and numerically.     

Optical simulation of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with non-cylindrical oxide confinement

Two extensions of weighted index method are presented in order to calculate the splitting of degeneracy for non-circular vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. Both of them automatically satisfy which transverse optical modes split, and give a reliable approximation for the resonant frequencies, threshold gains and confinement factors. The intuitive effective radius method traces back the splitting for different effective aperture radii which are defined according to the transverse intensity distributions. The hybrid analytical axial and numerical lateral method is more precise from a mathematical point of view, and provides the mode patterns as well as the optical data.     

长波长垂直腔面发射激光器研究

垂直腔面发射激光器（简称VCSEL）近年来受到了国内外科技界和企业界的高度关注，它在光通信领域具有潜在的应用．文章主要介绍了长波长垂直腔面发射激光器的发展历史、基本应用、器件结构、材料和制备工艺，最后分析了研制长波长VCSEL所遇到的问题及相应解决方法，并进行了展望．     

长波长垂直腔面发射激光器研究

垂直腔面发射激光器（简称VCSEL）近年来受到了国内外科技界和企业界的高度关注,它在光通信领域具有潜在的应用.文章主要介绍了长波长垂直腔面发射激光器的发展历史、基本应用、器件结构、材料和制备工艺,最后分析了研制长波长VCSEL所遇到的问题及相应解决方法,并进行了展望.     

Micromechanical tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We report the study on a short wavelength-tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser utilizing a monolithically integrated bridge tuning microelectromechanical system. A deformable-bridge top mirror suspended above an active region is utilized. Applied bridge-substrate bias produces an electrostatic force which reduces the spacing of air-gap and tunes the resonant wavelength toward a shorter wavelength (blue-shift). Good laser characteristics are obtained: such as continuous tuning ranges over 11 nm near 940 nm for 0--9 V tuning bias, the peak output power near 1 mW and the full-width-half-maximum limited to approximately 3.2--6.8 nm. A detailed simulation of the micromechanical and optical characteristics of these devices is performed, and the ratio of bridge displacement to wavelength shift has been found to be 3:1.     

Locking bandwidth and birefringence effects for polarized optical injection in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of external optical injection taking account of polarization and electron spin properties in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). Using external polarized injection we seek the locked phases and amplitudes of specific polarized fields in terms of injection level and frequency detuning, taking account of two kinds of distinguishable carrier density (spin-up and spin-down). For the conventional form of optical injection without taking account of spin-polarized fields there are three fundamental equations describing the carrier density, field amplitude and phase. However, by using the spin flip model (SFM), the combined effect of polarized fields along two perpendicular crystal axes and electron spin properties results in six equations. We analyse the conditions for stable locking and also the influence of birefringence effects on the stability map of detuning versus optical injection for both cases of injection polarized parallel and perpendicular to the lasing mode of the solitary VCSEL. For given values of pumping and spin relaxation rate there is a minimum birefringence rate for orthogonal injection. Above this value three regions of elliptical polarization are found in the stability map, namely “quasi-stability” (QS), “coupled limit cycle” (CLC) and “coupled chaos” (CC). The three regions of linear polarization, namely chaos, limit cycle and stability, are reduced in area compared to the case of parallel injection. For orthogonal injection it is found that increased birefringence or reduced spin relaxation rate causes the stable locking region to begin at higher injected power and frequency detuning.     

Complete chaotic synchronization characteristics of the linear-polarization mode of vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers with isotropic optical feedback

Based on the SFM model [M. San Miguel, Q. Feng, J.V. Moloney, Phys. Rev. A. 52 (1995) 1728.], complete chaotic synchronization characteristics of linear-polarization (LP) Mode of the vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers (VCSELs) with isotropic optical feedback are numerically investigated. When the propagation time τ_c of light from the transmitter to the receiver equals to the external cavity round-trip time τ, and the central frequency of the T_VCSEL matches that of the R_VCSEL, in large scale region of the feedback coefficient and the injection current where the x-polarization mode as well as the y-polarization mode obtains high synchronization quality at the same time. However, in the central frequency mismatch regions where the x- and y-polarization mode can obtain inferior synchronization quality at same time. But for τ_c ≠ τ, each LP mode of the mixed polarization modes achieved inferior synchronization quality at the same time. Besides, with big enough injection current, the output of the system with the same central frequency in two lasers is entirely governed by the y-polarization mode when the feedback coefficient and Δτ(=τ_c − τ) fixed at a certain value. So the system can realize steadily good synchronization of the completely dominant y-polarization mode. But the synchronization quality of the completely dominated y-polarization mode can be deteriorated by increasing absolute frequency detuning value. Besides, in positive frequency mismatch regions where the influence of the same frequency detuning value on the synchronization quality of the entirely governed y-polarization mode becomes smaller than in negative frequency detuning regions. At last, when τ is given and the central frequency of the T_VCSEL matches that of the R_VCSEL, the influence of the τ_c is not a simple time-shift in the time-evolution of the receiver VCSEL, which has serious influence on the complete synchronization quality of each LP mode.     

Light polarization fingerprints on nonlinear dynamics of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

In this paper we summarize the recent results on nonlinear dynamics of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) which are bearing the fingerprints of the particular polarization properties of VCSELs. Due to the surface emission and cylindrical symmetry, VCSELs lack strong polarization anisotropy and may undergo polarization switching and polarization mode-hopping. This provides new specificities to the rich nonlinear dynamics induced in VCSELs by an external perturbation. We unveil both experimentally and theoretically these new specificities for the case of optical feedback, optical injection, and unidirectional synchronization between VCSELs.     

1.55-μm InGaAs/InGaAlAs MQW vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with InGaAlAs/InP distributed Bragg reflectors

High-performance InGaAs/InGaAlAs multiple-quantum-well vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with InGaAlAs/InP distributed Bragg reflectors are proposed for operation at the wavelength of 1.55 μm. The lasers have good heat diffusion characteristic, large index contrast in DBRs, and weak temperature sensitivity. They could be fabricated either by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) or by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth. The laser light-current characteristics indicate that a suitable reflectivity of the DBR on the light output side in a laser makes its output power increase greatly and its lasing threshold current reduce significantly, and that a small VCSEL could output the power around its maximum for the output mirror at the reflectivity varying in a broader range than a large VCSEL does.     

n型DBR中电势对垂直腔面发射激光器阈值的影响

编制了增益波导垂直腔面发射激光器直接耦合准三维仿真软件，给出了电势、 载流子浓度、光场和热场分布.计算结果表明，只有同时考虑p型和n型分布布拉格反射镜中的电势，才能准确地反映垂直腔面发射激光器的阈值特性. 关键词： 垂直腔面发射激光器 p型DBR层 n型DBR层 有限差分法     

光子晶体波导对垂直腔面发射激光器光束远场形貌的调控

研究了光子晶体波导对垂直腔面发射激光器(VCSEL)光束远场形貌的调控.采用三层对称平板波导模型分析了影响光子晶体VCSEL(PC-VCSEL)远场发散角的参数.研究表明,PC-VCSEL中光子晶体的填充比(空气孔直径和光子晶体周期的比值)以及空气孔的刻蚀深度控制了光束的发散角,低填充比和浅刻蚀的PC-VCSEL有利于获得低发散角的光束.设计并制作了两种不同结构参数的PC-VCSEL,这两种器件中光子晶体的填充比和空气孔的刻蚀深度不同.实验结果表明,低填充比和浅刻蚀的PC-VCSEL的发散角更低,与理论分析符合得很好.     

Linewidth narrowing caused by optical feedback in a multi-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

We have studied experimentally spectral characteristics of a multi-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser that is subject to optical feedback. Appropriate alignment of the feedback mirror can suppress higher-order modes and significantly decrease the spectral linewidth of the laser.     

1550 nm垂直腔面发射激光器的特征参量随温度的变化

在采用自旋反转模型分析垂直腔面发射激光器（VCSELs）动力学行为的过程中,为了正确预测VCSELs的动力学行为,需要准确给出自旋反转模型中光场衰减速率k、总反转载流子衰减速率γ_N、线性二向色性系数γ_a、线性双折射系数γ_p、自旋反转速率γ_s和线宽增强因子α这6个特征参量.本文对1550 nm VCSELs在自由运行和平行光注入下的输出特性进行实验分析,获取了这6个特征参量的值,并着重研究了当激光器温度在10.00–30.00 ℃范围内变化时,这6个特征参量呈现的变化趋势.研究结果表明,随着温度的逐渐升高,γ_p整体呈现逐渐增加的趋势,γ_a,γ_s,γ_N和k呈现复杂的变化趋势,而α则呈现逐渐减小的趋势.     

光反馈诱发长波长垂直腔面发射激光器低功耗偏振开关

基于扩展的自旋反转模型,对光反馈诱发下长波长垂直腔面发射激光器中的低功耗偏振开关进行了理论研究.研究表明:长波长垂直腔面发射激光器在自由运行下未能获得的偏振开关现象,可以通过引入中等强度的偏振旋转光反馈来实现.对比强弱两种不同的线性色散效应,发现了一些有趣的现象:弱线性色散条件下更易于在低注入电流下获得偏振开关,并且产生偏振开关所需的反馈强度具有更大的调控范围;强色散效应中未能始终获得偏振开关,会出现两模共存区,并且偏振开关出现的注入电流值较高.同时,观察到的偏振模跳变和多偏振开关现象类似于短波长垂直腔面发射激光器,因而证实这两类激光器在偏振开关的本质规律上是相似的.此外,还对长波长垂直腔面发射激光器不易在低注入电流下获得偏振开关的原因进行了分析,并给出了合理的解释.     

Graded index profiles and loss-induced single-mode characteristics in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with petal-shape holey structure

The 850-nm oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with petal-shape holey structures are presented.An area-weighted average refractive index model is given to analyse their effective index profiles,and the graded index distribution in the holey region is demonstrated.The index step between the optical aperture and the holey region is obtained which is related merely to the etching depth.Four types of holey vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with different parameters are fabricated as well as the conventional oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.Compared with the conventional oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser without etched holes,the holey vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser possesses an improved beam quality due to its graded index distribution,but has a lower output power,higher threshold current and lower slope efficiency.With the hole number increased,the holey vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser can realize the single-mode operation throughout the entire current range,and reduces the beam divergence further.The loss mechanism is used to explain the single-mode characteristic,and the reduced beam divergence is attributed to the shallow etching.High coupling efficiency of 86% to a multi-mode fibre is achieved for the single-mode device in the experiment.