Observation of slow light in the noise spectrum of a vertical external cavity surface emitting laser

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates slow light effects caused by coherent population oscillations in the noise spectrum of a specialized laser, revealing new insights into laser noise and dispersion phenomena.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental observation of slow light effects in the noise spectrum of a vertical external cavity surface emitting laser due to coherent population oscillations.

Findings

Slow light effects observed in laser noise spectrum.

Coherent population oscillations cause dispersion leading to slow light.

Noise spectrum analysis isolates population oscillation effects.

Abstract

The role of coherent population oscillations is evidenced in the noise spectrum of an ultra-low noise lasers. This effect is isolated in the intensity noise spectrum of an optimized single-frequency vertical external cavity surface emitting laser. The coherent population oscillations induced by the lasing mode manifest themselves through their associated dispersion that leads to slow light effects probed by the spontaneous emission present in the non-lasing side modes.