ELLIPTIC POLARIZATION EMISSION FROM GAALAS LASER-DIODES IN AN EXTERNAL-CAVITY CONFIGURATION

We report the experimental operation of an external-cavity laser capab le of oscillating in TE, TM, and elliptical-polarization states. An in tracavity polarizer is used to force the laser to emit polarized radia tion with TE and TM components whose wavelength can be changed by rota ting the polarizer. A simple model based on the Jones matrix and stead y-state rate equations is used to explain experimental data. Theoretic al results for near threshold operation accurately predict the TE and TM power as a function of polarizer angle as well as the polarization dependence of wavelength.