Self-pulsation in fiber-coupled on-chip microcavity lasers

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates self-pulsation in an erbium-doped silica microcavity laser coupled to a fiber, analyzing how pump power and coupling conditions influence pulse dynamics, supported by an ion-pair quenching model.

Contribution

It presents the first observation of self-pulsation in an on-chip microcavity laser with detailed analysis of dynamic behaviors and underlying mechanisms.

Findings

Self-pulsation observed at specific pump powers.

Lasing occurs at 1560.2 nm with a 12 μW threshold.

Behavior explained by ion-pair induced self-quenching model.

Abstract

We report self-pulsation in an erbium-doped silica toroidal microcavity laser coupled to a tapered fiber and investigate the effects of pump power and taper-cavity coupling condition on the dynamic behaviors of the pulse train. The microcavity is pumped at 1444.8 nm, and lasing occurs at 1560.2 nm with a threshold of 12 {\mu}W. Experimental results are interpreted within the framework of ion-pair induced self-quenching model.