Open AccessActive polarisation control of a quantum cascade laser using tuneable birefringence in waveguides
Author(s) -
Devnath Dhirhe,
Thomas J. Slight,
B. M. Holmes,
C. N. Ironside
Publication year - 2013
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.21.024267
Subject(s) - cascade , optics , laser , quantum cascade laser , birefringence , materials science , optoelectronics , quantum dot laser , semiconductor laser theory , physics , chemistry , chromatography
We discuss the design, modelling, fabrication and characterisation of an integrated tuneable birefringent waveguide for quantum cascade lasers. We have fabricated quantum cascade lasers operating at wavelengths around 4450 nm that include polarisation mode converters and a differential phase shift section. We employed below laser threshold electroluminescence to investigate the single pass operation of the integrated device. We use a theory based on the electro-optic properties of birefringence in quantum cascade laser waveguides combined with a Jones matrix based description to gain an understanding of the electroluminescence results. With the quantum cascade lasers operating above threshold we demonstrated polarisation control of the output.