Modal structure, directional and wavelength jumps of integrated semiconductor ring lasers: Experiment and theory

3 pages, 7 figures.-- PACS: 42.55.Px, 42.60.ByWe have experimentally and theoretically analyzed the modal properties of semiconductor ring lasers and the wavelength jumps that occur in connection with directional switching above the threshold.We acknowledge financial support from the IOLOS 034743 project funded by the European Union’s Sixth Framework Program (EU FP6-2005-IST-5), the PhoDeCC (TEC2006-10009/MIC) project funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia MIC , the QULMI (PROGECIB-5A) project funded by the Spanish Govern Balear, and the TEC2006-13887-C05-03 project funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia.Peer reviewe