Electrically injected spin-vertical cavity surface emitting lasers for ultrafast data communication

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Martin Hofmann
• Subject Area: Electronic Semiconductors, Components and Circuits, Integrated Systems, Sensor Technology, Theoretical Electrical Engineering ; Communication Technology and Networks, High-Frequency Technology and Photonic Systems, Signal Processing and Machine Learning for Information Technology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 490699635

In spin-controlled vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (spin-VCSELs), polarization dynamics can be induced which is faster than the conventional intensity dynamics, can be controlled by anisotropies like birefringence, and potentially enables modulation frequencies beyond 200 GHz. Thus, this approach enables modulation frequencies for optical data communication that are faster by one order of magnitude than the actual state of the art. The first major goal of this project is to analyze the spin-induced polarization dynamics by experiment and simulation in order to understand the physics of the polarization dynamics and to exploit the potential for an ultrafast polarization modulation up to the Terahertz range. Based on this understanding, our second major goal is to develop a concept and an architecture for the first room-temperature electrically injected spin-VCSELs with ultrafast modulation capability and to realize such a device for the first time.

• DFG Programme: Reinhart Koselleck Projects
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr.-Ing. Nils Christopher Gerhardt