Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Ultrafast dynamic switching between two lasing states in quantum dot lasers

  • Boguslaw Tykalewicz
  • , David Goulding
  • , Stephen P. Hegarty
  • , Guillaume Huyet
  • , Evgeny A. Viktorov
  • , Bryan Kelleher

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingsConference proceedingpeer-review

Abstract

The unique carrier processes in quantum dot lasers mean that lasing can be achieved at the ground state (GS) transition wavelength or at the excited state (ES) transmission wavelength or indeed simultaneously at both wavelengths. The details depend on the device characteristics and control parameters such as the pumping current and temperature. When the lasing is from the ES only one can induce all-optical switching between the two states via optical injection into the GS. The high damping of the relaxation oscillations in these devices allows for very fast switching times, with sub-nanosecond transitions easily obtained. Such ultrafast switching times are vastly superior to those obtained with conventional semiconductor lasers and make these devices very attractive for all-optical switching applications. The interplay of the two states leads to a new dynamic regime. Near the boundary of stable locking for the injected GS, deep GS intensity dropouts are observed. Further, each dropout in the GS coincides with a burst in the ES output.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPhysics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices XXIII
EditorsBernd Witzigmann, Yasuhiko Arakawa, Fritz Henneberger, Marek Osinski
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781628414479
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Event23rd SPIE Conference on Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices - San Francisco, United States
Duration: 9 Feb 201512 Feb 2015

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9357
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

Conference23rd SPIE Conference on Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period9/02/1512/02/15

Keywords

  • all-optical signal processing
  • laser dynamics
  • Quantum dots
  • switching
  • two-state lasing

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Ultrafast dynamic switching between two lasing states in quantum dot lasers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this