Open AccessSelf-mixing in multi-transverse mode semiconductor lasers: model and potential application to multi-parametric sensing
Author(s) -
Lorenzo Columbo,
Massimo Brambilla,
Maurizio Dabbicco,
Gaetano Scamarcio
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.006286
Subject(s) - optics , transverse plane , physics , laser , displacement (psychology) , semiconductor laser theory , transverse mode , mixing (physics) , interferometry , longitudinal mode , parametric statistics , optical axis , psychology , statistics , mathematics , structural engineering , quantum mechanics , engineering , psychotherapist , lens (geology)
A general model is proposed for a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) with medium aspect ratio whose field profile can be described by a limited set of Gauss-Laguerre modes. The model is adapted to self-mixing schemes by supposing that the output beam is reinjected into the laser cavity by an external target mirror. We show that the self-mixing interferometric signal exhibits features peculiar of the spatial distribution of the emitted field and the target-reflected field and we suggest an applicative scheme that could be exploited for experimental displacement measurements. In particular, regimes of transverse mode-locking are found, where we propose an operational scheme for a sensor that can be used to simultaneously measure independent components of the target displacement like target translations along the optical axis (longitudinal axis) and target rotations in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis (transverse plane).