Abstract

One of the most promising applications of transverse nonlinear optics is the possibility of controlling the spatial profile of the beam emitted by a laser. The phenomenon of spatial multistability has already been exploited to suggest the realization of an optical associative memory with a laser operating as a decision element.¹ Another application is the low-energy switching in a bistable laser operating with two doughnut modes, as reported in ref. 3.³ However in that work, the bistable laser was a He-Ne laser, which is not suitable for practical purposes. Here we investigate the possibility of transverse mode switching in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers,² which are convenient because of their small dimensions, fast response, and low lasing thresholds.

© 1994 IEEE