The effects of nonlinear gain on the stability of semi-degenerate two-mode semiconductor lasers: a case study on VCSELs

From a linear stability analysis of the stationary solutions of a two-mode intensity rate equation model, we study the effects of nonlinear gain on the mode competition in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. Our analysis explains recent experiments where a power drop is observed at the polarisation switching point as well as a change of the net dichroism.