High frequency polarization dynamics of micro-lasers

This research project in photonics deals with the study of polarization switching in micro-lasers. Notwithstanding the commercial success of different types of micro-lasers, there are aspects of these lasers that are not fully understood, and their functionality may be further extended by an appropriate design. One of the micro-laser properties, which are not yet fully understood, is their polarization behavior: the state of polarization of the emitted light is not always well understood and controlled. Some micro-lasers exhibit therefore an unstable polarization behavior. Although many new insights about this problem have been gained in recent years, there remain many challenges with respect to the understanding and use of this polarization dynamics. The dynamic aspects that we wish to investigate in this project are the role of noise and the high frequency polarization dynamics in Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) and the dynamic behavior of coupled cavity VCSELs. We will also use our knowledge gained from the study of VCSELs in order to better understand the polarization properties of other types of micro-lasers, such as single-mode Nd: YAG micro-lasers.