Abstract

Bistable laser diodes are expected to be key components in the future optical communication and switching systems.¹ Kawaguchi et al.² predicted that there are two kinds of polarization bistability, i.e., S-shaped bistability and that pitchfork bifurcation bistability, and pitchfork bifurcation bistability has a major speed advantage over S-shaped bistability. They experimentally observed pitchfork bifurcation bistability by using a two-armed polafization-selective external-cavity configuration.³ Recently Pan et al. have observed bistable polarization switching in a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) through injection locking.

© 1995 Optical Society of America