The Overlap Factor Model of Spin-Polarised Coupled Lasers

Abstract

A general model for the dynamics of arrays of coupled spin-polarised lasers is derived. The general model is able to deal with waveguides of any geometry with any number of supported normal modes. A unique feature of the model is that it allows for independent polarisation of the pumping in each laser. The particular geometry is shown to be introduced via ’overlap factors’, which are a generalisation of the optical confinement factor. These factors play an important role in determining the laser dynamics. The model is specialised to the case of a general double-guided structure, which is shown to reduce to both the spin flip model in a single cavity and the coupled mode model for a pair of guides in the appropriate limit. This is applied to the particular case of a circular-guide laser pair, which is analysed and simulated numerically. It is found that increasing the ellipticity of the pumping tends to reduce the region of instability in the plane of pumping strength versus guide separation.