Post-processing of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers for transverse mode and polarization control

The operation on how high quality single-mode operation can be readily attained on etching circles in multimode devices is discussed. Arrays of such spots can also be envisaged. Control of the polarization state is also achieved by use of deep line etches. The output filaments and beam shapes of the conventional multimode vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL) is shown to be engineered in terms of their positions, widths, and polarizations by use of focused ion beam etching (FIBE). Several GaAs quantum well top-emitting devices with cavity diameters of 10 μm and 18 μm were investigated.

Mechanism of polarization pinning in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers using focused ion beam etching

Photoluminescence experiments have identified strain as the origin for polarization pinning in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers post-processed by focused ion beam etching. Theoretical models were applied to deduce the strain in devices. Post-annealing was used to optimize polarization pinning.

Chiral gratings - A new class of polarization sensitive metamaterials

The first experimental demonstration of unique polarizatioon characteristics are reported. It is believed that the strong polarization effects reported result from the chirality imposed by the patterns of gammadions enhanced by plasmon effects due to the nanostructuring of the metal film in which they are cut. It is clear that such structures has the potential to yield many new and intriguing applications in optoelectronics and other areas.

The silicon backplane design for an LCOS polarization-insensitive phase hologram SLM

Polarization-insensitivity is achieved in a reflective spatial light modulator by laying a quarter-wave plate (QWP) at the incident wavelength directly over the mirror pixels of a silicon backplane, and forming a nematle Fréedrickcz cell over the QWP to modulate the reflected phase. To achieve the highest drive voltage from the available silicon process, a switched voltage common front electrode design is described, with variable amplitude square wave drive to the pixels to maintain constant root-mean-square drive and minimize phase fluctuations during the dc balance refresh cycle. The silicon has been fabricated and liquid-crystal-on-silicon cells both with and without the QWP assembled; applications include optically transparent switches for optical networks, beam steering for add-drop multiplexers for wavelength-division- multiplexing telecommunications, television multicast, and holographic projection.