Nonlinear Dynamics Tailored by Spin-Polarized Carriers in Semiconductor Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers

Spin-polarized carriers generated in semiconductor cavities by electrical injection or circularly polarized light, favour the realization of newly developed spin-VCSELs. Such light sources have been considered as a type of information carrier, which can supply the enhanced performance for communications and signal processing. In this work, we provide a numerical investigation of the nonlinear dynamics of semiconductor lasers with injection of controllable spin-polarized electrons, in particular, pay more attention on the influence of noise of two polarization states. Through using the second-order correlation functions, we reveal that superthermal emission properties associated with g((2))(0) > 2 can be generated through modifying the spin of pump current. The noise effect on laser emission can be tuned by modifying the pump ellipticity, which is significant for the laser device design and fabrication. In addition, the corresponding polarization dynamics characterized by the Poincare sphere is also discussed. Our study may supply a theoretical guidance for people to better understand the underlying dynamics of spin-VCSELs.

Automated summary

This study provides a numerical investigation of the nonlinear dynamics of semiconductor lasers with controllable spin-polarized electron injection. The influence of noise from two polarization states is emphasized. The results show that superthermal emission properties can be generated by modifying the spin of the pump current. The noise effect on laser emission can be tuned by modifying the pump ellipticity, which is significant for laser device design and fabrication. Furthermore, the corresponding polarization dynamics characterized by the Poincare sphere is also discussed.