Modelling spin-polarised VCSELs

Michael J. Adams; K. Yasin; A. Dyson

doi:10.1117/12.609111

7 July 2005 Modelling spin-polarised VCSELs

Michael J. Adams, K. Yasin, A. Dyson

Proceedings Volume 5840, Photonic Materials, Devices, and Applications; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.609111
Event: Microtechnologies for the New Millennium 2005, 2005, Sevilla, Spain

Abstract

In this paper we model vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) that are optically pumped with circularly polarised light. This pumping scheme produces partial spin alignment of electrons since right-circular polarisation (RCP) excites spin-down electrons and left-circular polarisation excites spin-up electrons. The two spin populations are coupled through spin relaxation with a characteristic time in the order of 1-100 ps. RCP and LCP lasing emission from these populations are coupled through linear birefringence and gain anisotropy (dichroism), each with their own characteristic rates. The well-known spin-flip model (SFM) describes these processes in terms of four rate equations (one each for the complex RCP and LCP fields, one each for spin-up and spin-down electrons). For the special case when the two circularly-polarised field components have the same frequency and maintain a constant phase difference, these may be recast in terms of optical intensities, thus leading to an efficient method for numerical solution in the steady state. We have used this method to systematically investigate the influence of spin relaxation, birefringence and dichroism, and pump ellipticity on the VCSEL output. It is found that the spin relaxation time and the ellipticity of the optical pump have the strongest effect. The method can also be used to investigate the accuracy of approximate solutions of the SFM equations that have been proposed in the literature.

Citation Download Citation

Michael J. Adams, K. Yasin, and A. Dyson "Modelling spin-polarised VCSELs", Proc. SPIE 5840, Photonic Materials, Devices, and Applications, (7 July 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.609111

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available