We show that semiconductor Fano lasers strongly suppress dynamic instabilities induced by
external optical feedback. A comparison with conventional Fabry-Perot lasers shows orders of
magnitude improvement in feedback stability, and in many cases even total suppression of coherence
collapse, due to a unique reduction of the characteristic relaxation oscillation frequency.
The laser dynamics is analysed using a generalisation of the Lang-Kobayashi model for semiconductor
lasers with external feedback.
Inclusion of a mirror based on Fano interference in photonic crystal lasers has shown rich dynamics, including controllable self-pulsing, extraordinary feedback stability and pinned single-mode lasing. The narrowband Fano mirror also results in a strong response to tuning of the nanocavity resonance, so that the Fano laser enables realisation of a variety of on-chip optical pulse generation and manipulation schemes. In this work initial numerical investigations of switching with Fano lasers is presented, demonstrating deterministic generation of optical pulses with pulsewidths in the few ps range at GHz repetition rates, as well as equalisation and transistor-like operation.
Here we experimentally characterize photonic crystal nanolasers where the first endhole of the mirror has been systamatically shifted. FDTD simulations of similar passive cavities are done in order to find the expected evolution of the quality factor. We find that the predicted increase in the quality factor of the equivalent passive cavities leads to a decrease in the threshold power of the active nanolasers as expected. The maximum output power for varying endhole shifts has also been investigated and shifting the holes to optimize quality factor leads to lower maximum output power, when measuring from the top. The mirror of the photonic crystal cavity is further investigated as the mirror phase and penetration depth into the mirror are determined as a function of the endhole shift.
Replacing a conventional mirror in a photonic crystal laser by one based on Fano interference leads to rich laser dynamics, including realization of stable self-pulsing and potential for ultra-fast modulation. In particular, the narrowband Fano mirror guarantees single-mode operation and significantly alters the modulation response compared to Fabry-Perot lasers. In this work the small-signal response is analyzed using a dynamical model based on coupled-mode theory and rate equations, which shows how the 3-dB bandwidth of the frequency modulation response may exceed tens of THz, orders of magnitude larger than for conventional semiconductor lasers.
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