Independent phase and magnitude control of an optically carried microwave signal with a three-terminal vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

We demonstrate a compact integrated method for phase and magnitude control of an optically carried microwave signal with no external high-frequency circuitry. Our device consists of a novel three contact VCSEL, which permits external control of both the cavity loss and gain. Independent control of the phase and magnitude of the optically carried signal is demonstrated. With reference to the small-signal rate equations, we show that such independent control is only possible given the extra degree of freedom offered by the three contact design.