Polarization dynamics in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with optical feedback: experiment and model

We study the polarization-resolved dynamics of a vertical-cavity surface-em itting laser with mode-matched and polarization-preserving optical feedback . The total power can display low-frequency fluctuations, which are associa ted with drops in power of the dominant linearly polarized mode and with bu rsts of power of the depressed mode. However, for most parameter values the vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser output does not display low-frequen cy fluctuations, although antiphase dynamics between the two linear polariz ation components has been found. A theoretical model that includes all refl ections in the external cavity with a minimum computational cost is develop ed. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America [S0740-3224(99)01311-9].