Abstract
Cavity solitons (CS) are single peak localized structures which form over a homogeneous background in the section of broad-area non linear resonator driven by a coherent holding beam. They can be switched on and off by shining a writing/ erasing local laser pulse into the optical cavity. Moreover, when a phase or amplitude gradient is introduced in the holding beam, CS are set in motion along the gradient with a speed that depends on gradient strength. The ability to address CS and to control their location as well as their motion makes them interesting for alloptical processing units. In this chapter we report on several functionalities of CS that have been experimentally implemented in a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) biased below threshold. We show that CS positions in the transverse section of the resonator can be reconfigured according to a phase landscape introduced in the holding beam. CS drifting propelled by a phase gradient in the holding beam can be used for realizing an all-optical delay line. Information bits are written in form of CS at a point of the device and a time delayed version of the written information can be read elsewhere along the gradient direction. CS existence and functionalities are deeply affected by presence of device defects generated during the fabrication process and randomly distributed through the device section. The sensitivity of CS to parameters gradients can be used to probe these defects, otherwise not detectable, and mapping their positions. Finally, a periodic flow of moving CS can be obtained by the interplay between a device defect and an external parameter gradient. This suggests the possibility of engineering a CS source directly onto the device.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Giudici, M. et al. (2011). Cavity Solitons in Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers and their Applications. In: Descalzi, O., Clerc, M., Residori, S., Assanto, G. (eds) Localized States in Physics: Solitons and Patterns. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16549-8_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16549-8_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-16548-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-16549-8
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)