title: Nonvolatile polarization control of a bistable VCSEL.
abstract: We report experimental evidence of nonvolatile all-optical memory operation using the two linear polarization states emitted from a GaAs oxide-confined VCSEL. The two polarization states coexist in a large range of pumping currents and substrate temperatures, and they can be controlled all-optically by exposing the device to polarization selective feedback, to crossed polarization reinjection orby injecting external light pulses. The active polarization state is recovered after powering off and on the VCSEL, while memory is lost if the substrate temperature is varied.
authors.affiliation: Institut Non Linéaire de Nice, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1361 route des Lucioles, 06560 Valbonne, France.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barland
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giudici