Quantum noise and polarization fluctuations in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We investigate the polarization fluctuations caused by quantum noise in quantum-well vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). Langevin equations are derived on the basis of a generalized rate equation model in which the influence of competing gain-loss and frequency anisotropies is included. This reveals how the anisotropies and the quantum-well confinement effects shape the correlations and the magnitude of fluctuations in ellipticity and in the polarization direction. According to our results, all parameters used in the rate equations may be obtained experimentally from precise time-resolved measurements of the intensity and polarization fluctuations in the emitted laser light. To clarify the effects of anisotropies and of quantum-well confinement on the laser process in VCSELs we therefore propose time-resolved measurements of the polarization fluctuations in the laser light. In particular, such measurements allow us to distinguish the effects of frequency anisotropy and of gain-loss anisotropy and would provide data on the spin relaxation rate in the quantum-well structure during cw operation as well as representing a different way of experimentally determining the linewidth enhancement factor α.