Session H33: Focus Session: Optical Properties of Magnetic Semiconductors

8:00 AM–10:48 AM, Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Morial Convention Center Room: 224

Sponsoring Units: GMAG FIAP DMP
Chair: Jim Allen, University of California, Santa Barbara

Abstract ID: BAPS.2008.MAR.H33.10

Abstract: H33.00010 : Theory of spin-polarized semiconductor lasers

10:12 AM–10:24 AM

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Authors:

  Rafal Oszwaldowski
  Christian Gothgen
  Igor Zutic
    (SUNY Buffalo)

In semiconductor systems spin-polarized electrons couple to photons with definite angular momentum. This effect is the basis for numerous existing and proposed devices [1]. Quantum-well based Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) take advantage of this phenomenon to produce circularly-polarized light by using either optical or electrical pumping [2]. We describe the VCSEL system employing Semiconductor Bloch Equations. We include the influence of spin-orbit coupling and the dependence of dipole matrix elements on carrier's wavevectors. We reduce this description to an effective four-level model, incorporating such effects as different spin lifetimes for electrons/holes and laser-cavity birefringence. Applying this approach to a spin-polarized system, we calculate the threshold current, the polarization of the emitted light and other relevant quantities. [1] I. Zutic, J. Fabian, S. Das Sarma, Rev. Mod. Phys. 76, 323 (2004). [2] M. Holub et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 146603 (2007); J. Rudolph et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 82, 4516 (2003).

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2008.MAR.H33.10