Determining the linewidth enhancement factor via optical feedback in quantum dot micropillar lasers
Abstract
The linewidth enhancement factor α is a key parameter determining the spectral and dynamical behavior of semiconductor lasers. Here, we propose and demonstrate a method for determining this parameter based on a direct measurement of variations in the laser gain and emission spectrum when subject to delayed optical feedback. We then use our approach to determine the pump current dependent linewidth enhancement factor of a high-β quantum dot micropillar laser. The validity of our approach is confirmed comparing it to two conventional methods, one based on the comparison of the linewidths above and below threshold and the other based on injection locking properties. Furthermore, the pump power dependence of α is quantitatively described by simulations based on a quantum-optical model.
Citation
Holzinger , S , Kreinberg , S , Hokr , B H , Schneider , C , Höfling , S , Chow , W W , Porte , X & Reitzenstein , S 2018 , ' Determining the linewidth enhancement factor via optical feedback in quantum dot micropillar lasers ' , Optics Express , vol. 26 , no. 24 , pp. 31363-31371 . https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.26.031363
Publication
Optics Express
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1094-4087Type
Journal article
Rights
© 2018 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement. This is the final published version of the work, which was originally published at https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.26.031363
Description
Funding: European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program (ERC Grant Agreement No. 615613); German Research Foundation (CRC 787); U.S. Department of Energy (Contract No. DE-AC04-94AL85000).Collections
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