Polarization-resolved relative intensity noise measurements of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser subjected to strong optical feedback

We experimentally measure the polarization-resolved relative intensity noise (RIN) in two orthogonal polarization states of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) subjected to strong optical feedback. A comparison is made with the RIN of solitary VCSEL. Optical feedback is shown to enhance the RIN in one polarization direction while suppressing the RIN in the orthogonal polarization. The RIN in the dominant polarization mode exhibits complementary behavior to the RIN in the suppressed polarization mode.