Abstract

It has previously been established that cavity solitons (CS) can be created and erased in a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) with optical injection [1]. CS are ideal candidates for the implementation of information processes such as delay lines and optical memories in broad area optoelectronic devices. For example, an all-optical delay line in a VCSEL below threshold has recently been demonstrated [2]. In such a device, CS are written by an input pulsed signal, moved (i.e. delayed) transversally by phase gradients and read at the end of the line. We investigate here the dynamic and merging properties of CS in above threshold VCSELs with optical injection, with the aim of developing an all-optical delay line with a CS laser.

© 2009 IEEE