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Study of the harmonic content of a modulated semiconductor diode laser in an external optical cavity

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6183394

The use of high speed fiberoptic links to control microwave and millimeter wave systems will potentially result in better performance, lower cost, and smaller size for these systems. The development of higher speed fiberoptic links, particularly wider bandwidth modulation of the optical carrier, will be required to realize these improvements. Harmonic generation in laser diodes by large signal modulation provides increased frequency content beyond the normal frequency modulation limits of these devices. External optical cavities can be sued to selectively increase these harmonic frequency amplitudes. Modeling of the laser diode in an external cavity indicates substantial modification of the laser dynamic response due to the cavity. The optical mode structure of the laser and the coherency of these modes are affected by the external cavity. This is supported by experiment. This technique can be expected to provide modulation frequencies up to 100 gHz.

Research Organization:
Drexel Univ., Philadelphia, PA (USA)
OSTI ID:
6183394
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English