Longitudinal mode spectrum of semiconductor lasers under high-speed modulation

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7048875

Lau, K Y; Harder, C; Yariv, A

Experimental observations of the lasing spectrum of a single-mode semiconductor laser under continuous microwave modulation reveal that the lasing spectrum is apparently locked to a single-longitudinal mode for optical modulation depths up to about 80 percent, beyond which the lasing spectrum breaks into multimode oscillation. The width of the envelope of the multimode spectrum increases very rapidly with further increase in modulation depth. These results are satisfactorily explained by a theoretical treatment which gives simple analytic results for the time evolution of the individual longitudinal modes. It also yields considerable insight into spectral dynamics, and enables one to predict the dynamic lasing spectrum of a laser from its CW lasing spectra at various output powers. The results can also be used to predict the amount of spectral envelope broadening under single or pseudorandom pulse modulation.

• Research Organization: California Inst. of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125
• OSTI ID: 7048875
• Journal Information: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States) Vol. 20:1; ISSN IEJQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
DEPTH
DIMENSIONS
DYNAMICS
LASERS
LINE BROADENING
MECHANICS
MICROWAVE SPECTRA
MODULATION
OSCILLATIONS
PULSES
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS
SPECTRA
TIME DEPENDENCE
VELOCITY
WIDTH