Mechanism of all-optical spin-dependent polarization switching in Bragg-spaced quantum wells

The authors outline a microscopic theory of pump-induced anisotropy in the optical response of Bragg-spaced quantum wells (BSQWs). Their theory explains the manipulation of the band structure of the BSQWs by the pump through the microscopic interactions between excitons in the quantum wells. They apply their theory to understand the mechanism of an all-optical polarization switch implemented on a BSQW structure. They trace the relation between the strongly spin-dependent exciton-exciton interactions and the switching signal. Reasonably good agreement is found between their theoretical results and experimental data.

[1]  A. A. Lisyansky,et al.  Polariton Dispersion Law in Periodic Bragg and Near-Bragg Multiple Quantum Well Structures , 2000 .

[2]  E. Gansen,et al.  χ(3) analysis of all-optical polarization switching in semiconductor quantum wells , 2004 .

[3]  H. Gibbs,et al.  Ultrafast ac Stark effect switching of the active photonic band gap from Bragg-periodic semiconductor quantum wells , 2002 .

[4]  E. Gansen,et al.  Ultrafast polarization modulation induced by the “virtual excitation” of spin-polarized excitons in quantum wells: Application to all-optical switching , 2004 .

[5]  Thomas,et al.  Coherent dynamics of radiatively coupled quantum-well excitons. , 1996, Physical review. B, Condensed matter.

[6]  Lucio Claudio Andreani,et al.  Polaritons in multiple quantum wells , 1995 .

[7]  All-optical spin-dependent polarization switching in Bragg-spaced quantum well structures , 2005 .

[8]  Stephan W Koch,et al.  Exciton-polariton eigenmodes in light-coupled In 0.04 Ga 0.96 As/GaAs semiconductor multiple-quantum-well periodic structures , 2000 .

[9]  A. Smirl,et al.  Stopping, storing and releasing light in quantum well Bragg structures , 2005, 2005 Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference.

[10]  Kikuo Cho,et al.  Fate of the superradiant mode in a resonant Bragg reflector , 2002 .

[11]  H. Gibbs,et al.  COULOMB MEMORY SIGNATURES IN THE EXCITONIC OPTICAL STARK EFFECT , 1999 .

[12]  M. Artoni,et al.  Resonantly absorbing one-dimensional photonic crystals. , 2005, Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics.

[13]  E. Gansen,et al.  Femtosecond all-optical polarization switching based on the virtual excitation of spin-polarized excitons in quantum wells , 2002 .

[14]  J. Davies.  The individual success of musicians, like that of physicists, follows a stretched exponential distribution , 2002 .

[15]  A. Smirl,et al.  Distortionless light pulse delay in quantum-well Bragg structures. , 2005, Optics letters.

[16]  Hey,et al.  Collective effects of excitons in multiple-quantum-well Bragg and anti-Bragg structures. , 1996, Physical review letters.