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Asymmetric stationary lasing patterns in 2D symmetric microcavities
Takahisa Harayama1, Takehiro Fukushima, Satoshi Sunada
1ATR Adaptive Communications Research Laboratories, 2-2-2 Hikaridai Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto 619-0228, Japan.
Physical Review Letters
|August 26, 2003
Summary
Resonance mode locking in 2D microcavity lasers creates asymmetric lasing patterns, even with symmetric laser designs. This phenomenon was confirmed in semiconductor microcavity laser diode experiments.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear dynamics
- Quantum optics
- Laser physics
Background:
- 2D resonant microcavities support multiple resonance modes.
- Mode locking can lead to complex laser dynamics and output patterns.
- Symmetry in microcavity design often implies symmetric optical behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the locking of two resonance modes with different symmetry classes and frequencies in 2D resonant microcavity lasers.
- Analyze the resulting stationary lasing states and far-field patterns.
- Compare theoretical predictions with experimental observations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a nonlinear dynamical model to simulate mode locking.
- Analyzed the symmetry properties of stationary lasing states.
- Examined the far-field emission patterns.
Main Results:
- Observed locking of resonance modes with different symmetry classes and frequencies.
- Demonstrated that stationary lasing states and far fields exhibit asymmetry.
- Asymmetric patterns arise despite the symmetric shape of the microcavity.
Conclusions:
- The locking of dissimilar resonance modes in 2D microcavity lasers inherently leads to asymmetric optical outputs.
- This asymmetry is a key characteristic, irrespective of the microcavity's geometric symmetry.
- Experimental validation in 2D semiconductor microcavity laser diodes confirms the theoretical findings on asymmetric lasing states.