Mode switching in shear-strained and modulated photonic lattices by vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays by means of injection locking

Fishman, Tal; Hardy, A.; Kapon, E.

doi:10.1063/1.125594

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Arrays of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) have been studied extensively for coherent optical coupling between lasers [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Coherent coupling allows for increased power in the far field at a single frequency, which may be used in applications such as optical logic, image processing, and beam steering.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of the optical loss between evanescently coupled VCSELs, a phase-shift of 180 degrees is typically observed between neighboring lasers [2]. Previous work with implanted VCSEL arrays specifically included elements of optical loss such as an air gap [3] or metal [4][5][6][7][8] between lasers. These geometries create an out-of-phase array mode with an on-axis null in the far-field which is undesirable for most applications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Advances in Coherent 2-Dimensional Vertical Cavity Laser Arrays

Choquette

Harren

Siriani

et al. 2008

2008 IEEE Aerospace Conference

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Coupled 2-dimensional (2D) arrays of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) have been pursued for more than two decades. Recently, we have found that VCSEL arrays defined by introducing an etched photonic crystal (PhC) into the top facet or with multiple implantation apertures demonstrate coherently coupled inphase operation. We show that proton implantation may also be used to define individual elements in the coupled array. This approach adds no fabrication complexity to that of a conventional implant VCSEL. Because the implant provides electrical confinement without adding optical loss, the lasers tend to lock in-phase, which is the preferred mode of operation.We have also found that variable phase between the array pixels is possible and influences the coherence and far field pattern, where the latter can enable beam steering applications. Changing the current injection to one laser in the array causes the coherence and relative phase between the emission of the two lasers to change. The change in relative phase between defects results in a change in the far field angle of the peak emission. Because the relative phase variation is retained when the array current is pulsed, electronic (rather than thermal) effects create the induced refractive index changes which lead to phase shifting. By combining proton-implanted coherent arrays and separately controlling the injection into a 3-element array, up to 70 maximum beam steering into 2-dimensions has been achieved. 12

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in Coherent 2-Dimensional Vertical Cavity Laser Arrays

Choquette

Harren

Siriani

et al. 2008

2008 IEEE Aerospace Conference

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Strain effects and phase transitions in photonic resonator crystals

Pier

Kapon

Moser³

2000

Nature

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Optical structures with periodic variations of the dielectric constant in one or more directions (photonic crystals) have been employed extensively for studying optical diffraction phenomena. Practical interest in such structures arises from the possibilities they offer for tailoring photon modes, and thereby the characteristics of light propagation and light-matter interactions. Photonic resonator crystals comprising two-dimensional arrays of coupled optical microcavities have been fabricated using vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser wafers. In such structures, the light propagates mostly normal to the periodic plane. Therefore, the corresponding lateral Bragg-periodicities are larger, a feature that is advantageous for device manufacture as it allows for larger lattice constants in the lateral direction. Here we investigate strain effects in a photonic resonator crystal by shifting neighbouring lattice rows of microcavities in opposite directions, thereby introducing an alternating square or quasi-hexagonal pattern of shear strain. We find that, for strain values below a critical threshold, the lasing photon mode is virtually locked to the corresponding mode supported by the unstrained photonic crystal. At the critical strain value, we observe a phase-transition-like switching between the square and quasi-hexagonal lattice modes. The tolerance of subcritical strains suggests that the resonator crystal may be useful for applications requiring high spatial coherence across the lattice, while the mode switching could potentially be exploited in free-space optical communications.

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Coupled VCSEL arrays: a model system for two-dimensional photonic crystals

Kapon

IEEE/LEOS Summer Topi All-Optical Networking: Existing and Emerging Architecture and Applications/Dynamic Enablers of Next-Gene

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Mode switching in shear-strained and modulated photonic lattices by vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays by means of injection locking

Cited by 5 publications

References 8 publications

Advances in Coherent 2-Dimensional Vertical Cavity Laser Arrays

Advances in Coherent 2-Dimensional Vertical Cavity Laser Arrays

Strain effects and phase transitions in photonic resonator crystals

Coupled VCSEL arrays: a model system for two-dimensional photonic crystals

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