Optical switching with VCSELs

In this paper, we have reviewed the switching properties of VCSELs and summarized the recent original results concerning polarization switching and transverse mode dynamics in VCSELs with optical injection or time-delayed optical feedback. Mathematical continuation techniques for ordinary differential equations allow us to map the bifurcation boundaries in the plane of the frequency detuning versus the injection strength and then to provide insight into the origins of the VCSEL switching properties and instabilities.