Polarization-Stable Single-Mode Tunable VCSELs Using an Internal Mesa Heater

We fabricated polarization single-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers which are thermally induced wavelength- tunable using an internal mesa heater. A 6.21 nm tuning range was achieved with a 100 mA tuning current and a 6 mA driving current while maintaining continuous polarization-stable single-mode operation. The orthogonal polarization suppression ratio is more than 20 dB. In addition, we found stable linear polarization characteristics from the three mesas aligned along to the lang01-1rang crystal axis.