VCSEL polarization control for chip-scale atomic clocks.

Geib, Kent Martin ; Peake, Gregory Merwin ; Wendt, Joel Robert ; Serkland, Darwin Keith ; Keeler, Gordon Arthur

Sandia National Laboratories

关键词: Polarization (Light)-Analysis.;    Polarization;    Process Control;    Semiconductor Lasers;    42 Engineering;   

DOI  :  10.2172/902214
RP-ID  :  SAND2007-0069
RP-ID  :  AC04-94AL85000
RP-ID  :  902214

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

Sandia National Laboratories and Mytek, LLC have collaborated to develop a monolithically-integrated vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) assembly with controllable polarization states suitable for use in chip-scale atomic clocks. During the course of this work, a robust technique to provide polarization control was modeled and demonstrated. The technique uses deeply-etched surface gratings oriented at several different rotational angles to provide VCSEL polarization stability. A rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) model was used to optimize the design for high polarization selectivity and fabrication tolerance. The new approach to VCSEL polarization control may be useful in a number of defense and commercial applications, including chip-scale atomic clocks and other low-power atomic sensors.