Observation of electro-activated localized structures in broad area VCSELs.

J Parravicini,F Prati,C Rizza,E Delre,G Tissoni,M Brambilla,L Columbo,A J Agranat

doi:10.1364/oe.22.030225

Abstract

We demonstrate experimentally the electro-activation of a localized optical structure in a coherently driven broad-area vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) operated below threshold. Control is achieved by electro-optically steering a writing beam through a pre-programmable switch based on a photorefractive funnel waveguide.

Highlights

IntroductionIntroduction and motivationOne of the main hurdles of photonic technology is the ability to store temporarily information directly from an optical stream [1]
Introduction and motivationOne of the main hurdles of photonic technology is the ability to store temporarily information directly from an optical stream [1]
Are vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) technologically integrated with standard electronics, so that they can form a valid bridge between an electronic motherboard and a guided or free-air optical network, but they can be built in a so-called “broad area” format, so that the encoded spatial structure only pervades a small micron-sized transverse portion of the 100+ μm cavity [3, 4]

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and motivationOne of the main hurdles of photonic technology is the ability to store temporarily information directly from an optical stream [1]. Are VCSELs technologically integrated with standard electronics, so that they can form a valid bridge between an electronic motherboard and a guided or free-air optical network, but they can be built in a so-called “broad area” format, so that the encoded spatial structure only pervades a small micron-sized transverse portion of the 100+ μm cavity [3, 4] This allows, in specific conditions, a dynamic formation of localized structures known as cavity solitons [5,6,7] that can move and interact [8,9,10]. Since the structures are optically generated, an important issue is how to achieve their rapid control through an electrical signal This is an issue of spatial light modulation, so that standard techniques based on micro-arrays of liquid-crystals or mirrors are applicable [11]. An alternative scheme is to make use of acousto-optic modulation [12] and, ideally, electro-optics, where response time down to and below the nanosecond scale is readily achieved

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