Measurement of the temporal coherence properties of pulsed single-mode laser diodes

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Appl. Opt.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.24.001926· OSTI ID:5524183

Haney, M; Psaltis, D

The coherence of a single-mode laser diode, under high-speed pulsed modulation, is limited by instabilities in the lasing wavelength arising from transient phenomena in the junction region of the laser. This paper reports the results of an experiment to characterize the effects of these modal instabilities on the temporal coherence of pulsed laser diodes. The primary intent of the experiment was measurement of the cumulative effect of the modal instabilities on the fringe visibility in interferometric time integrating optical processors. A conclusion of this study is that commercially available laser diodes can be used as pulsed light sources in interferometric applications in which the pulse width of the laser is long compared to its characteristic coherence time constant and short compared to its characteristic thermal time constant. Furthermore, the interpulse modal instability can be minimized by prudent choice of operating conditions.

• Research Organization: California Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, Pasadena, California 901125.
• OSTI ID: 5524183
• Journal Information: Appl. Opt.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Opt.; (United States) Vol. 24:13; ISSN APOPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
CORRELATIONS
ELECTRIC HEATING
HEATING
INTERFEROMETRY
LASERS
LIGHT EMITTING DIODES
MODULATION
OPTICAL MODES
OPTICAL SYSTEMS
OSCILLATION MODES
PULSES
RESISTANCE HEATING
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS
STABILITY
TRANSIENTS