@article{176656,
  keywords = {Laser theory, Microcavities},
  author = {Li Ge and David Liu and Alexander Cerjan and Stefan Rotter and Hui Cao and Steven G. Johnson and Hakan E. T{\"u}reci and A. Douglas Stone},
  title = {Interaction-induced mode switching in steady-state microlasers},
  abstract = { We demonstrate that due to strong modal interactions through cross-gain saturation, the onset of a new lasing mode can switch off an existing mode via a negative power slope. In this process of interaction-induced mode switching (IMS) the two involved modes maintain their identities, i.e. they do not change their spatial field patterns or lasing frequencies. For a fixed pump profile, a simple analytic criterion for the occurrence of IMS is given in terms of their self- and cross-interaction coefficients and non-interacting thresholds, which is verified for the example of a two-dimensional microdisk laser. When the spatial pump profile is varied as the pump power is increased, IMS can be induced even when it would not occur with a fixed pump profile, as we show for two coupled laser cavities. Our findings apply to steady-state lasing and are hence different from dynamical mode switching or hopping. IMS may have potential applications in robust and flexible all-optical switching. },
  year = {2016},
  journal = {Optics Express},
  volume = {24},
  pages = {41},
  issn = {1094-4087},
  url = {http://www.osapublishing.org/viewmedia.cfm?uri=oe-24-1-41\&seq=0\&html=true},
  doi = {10.1364/OE.24.000041},
  language = {eng},
}