Transient effects in external cavity semiconductor lasers

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/JQE.1983.1071740· OSTI ID:5083974

Olsson, N A; Tsang, W T

In several important applications of external cavity operated semiconductor lasers, including studies for FM optical communication and frequency stabilized lasers for coherent communication systems, the transient response of the laser is of crucial importance. In this letter, the authors, present a first study of the transient optical response following a step current excitation applied to an AlGaAs laser operating in a dispersive external cavity. The study shows for the first time that, for optical feedback near the gain peak of the laser, a steady state is reached after only three roundtrips in the external cavity. However, for optical feedback far (about 100 A) from the gain peak, 20 or more roundtrips are required before a steady state can be reached. It is also shown that under certain operation conditions the optical feedback can induce damped relaxation oscillations at each subsequent roundtrip in the external cavity.

• Research Organization: Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ 07974
• OSTI ID: 5083974
• Journal Information: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States) Vol. 19:10; ISSN IEJQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
ALUMINIUM ARSENIDES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
AMPLIFICATION
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
DESIGN
GAIN
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
LASERS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OSCILLATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PNICTIDES
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS
TRANSIENTS