Spin-VCSELs with Local Optical Anisotropies: Toward Terahertz Polarization Modulation
Mariusz Drong, Tibor Fördös, Henri Y Jaffrès, Jan Peřina, Kamil Postava, Přemysl Ciompa, Jaromı́r Pištora, H.-J. Drouhin
Abstract
Putting a different spin on photonics: Spin-injected vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (Spin-VCSELs) with strong anisotropies are important in particular for ultrafast and terahertz applications, but the field is being held back in part because of lack of sufficiently predictive physical models. This study uses temporal coupled-mode theory with the transfer-matrix formalism to make progress by extending the spin-flip model. Additionally, the authors propose a spin-VCSEL with an anisotropic intracavity grating. This approach points to engineering solutions for ultrafast optical communication and compact terahertz sources.