Polarization and modal dynamics of multimode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers subject to optical feedback and current modulation

Abstract

Dynamics of a multi-transverse mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser is studied experimentally in a wide parameter range of optical feedback and current modulation. While the orthogonal polarizations manifest anticorrelated feedback dynamics, dynamics of different transverse modes with orthogonal polarizations do not exhibit a clear correlation property. This may be attributed to spatial hole burning effect. As the current modulation becomes strong, both polarization and modal dynamics are modulation dominated. When the modulation frequency is close to the external cavity resonance frequency or its harmonics, feedback dynamics is enhanced. For the modulation frequency close to half integer multiples of the external cavity resonance frequency, feedback feature can be suppressed. The minimum modulation amplitude for suppressing feedback dynamics is measured for each polarization and one of the transverse modes in the polarization, and the results are discussed. Interplay of relaxation oscillation, optical feedback, and current modulation is observed and measured. Our results are compared to the theoretical predictions.