Bistability in coupled cavity semiconductor lasers

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.94592· OSTI ID:5509418

Dutta, N K; Agrawal, G P; Focht, M W

Experimental results on bistable operation of coupled cavity semiconductor lasers are presented. The light level at the upper and lower states can be controlled by varying the injection current. A model calculation of the coupled cavity laser system shows that the bistability is due to nonlinearities associated with above threshold gain saturation. Our results show that a coupled cavity laser can exhibit bistability at all temperatures and, in addition, the size of the ''hysteresis loop'' can be easily controlled by varying the injection current. These results are significant for a practical bistable optical device.

• Research Organization: AT and T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974
• OSTI ID: 5509418
• Journal Information: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 44:1; ISSN APPLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
AMPLIFICATION
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
GAIN
HYSTERESIS
LASER CAVITIES
LASERS
NONLINEAR OPTICS
OPERATION
OPTICS
SATURATION
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS
STABILITY
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS