We report parity-time (PT) symmetry breaking in electrically injected, coherently coupled, vertical cavity surface emitting laser arrays. We predict beam steering, mode evolution and mode hopping as a consequence of the non-Hermiticity of the array analyzed by temporal coupled mode theory with both asymmetric gain distribution and local frequency detuning. We present experimental confirmation of the predicted mode evolution, mode hopping and PT symmetry breaking with quantitative agreement with the theory.
Optically-coupled semiconductor laser arrays are described by coupled rate equations. The coupled mode equations and carrier densities are included in the analysis, which inherently incorporate the carrier-induced nonlinearities including spatial hole burning and amplitude-phase coupling. We solve the steady-state coupled rate equations and consider the cavity frequency detuning and the individual laser pump rates as the experimentally controlled variables. We show that the carrier-induced nonlinearities play a critical role in the mode control, and we identify gain contrast induced by cavity frequency detuning as a unique mechanism for mode control. Photon-mediated energy transfer between cavities is also discussed. Parity-time symmetry and exceptional points in this system are studied. Unbroken parity-time symmetry can be achieved by judiciously combining cavity detuning and unequal pump rates, while broken symmetry lies on the boundary of the optical locking region. Exceptional points are identified at the intersection between broken and unbroken parity-time symmetry.
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