Title :
Semiconductor laser stabilization by external optical feedback
Author :
Hjelme, D.R. ; Mickelson, Alan Rolf ; Beausoleil, Raymond G.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Colorado Univ., Boulder, CO, USA
fDate :
3/1/1991 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A report is presented on a general theory describing the effect of external optical feedback on the steady-state noise characteristics of single-mode semiconductor lasers. The theory is valid for arbitrarily strong feedback and arbitrary optical feedback configuration and spectrum. A generalized Langevin rate equation is derived. The equation is, in general, infinite order in d/dt constituting an infinite-order correction to the low-frequency weak-feedback analysis. The general formalism includes relaxation oscillations and permits analysis of the effect of feedback on the laser linewidth, frequency noise, relative intensity noise, and the relaxation oscillation sidebands in the field spectrum. The theory is applied to two important feedback configurations: the laser coupled to a single mirror and the laser coupled to a high-Q cavity.<>
Keywords :
electron device noise; laser frequency stability; semiconductor junction lasers; arbitrary optical feedback configuration; external optical feedback; field spectrum; frequency noise; general theory; generalized Langevin rate equation; high-Q cavity; infinite-order correction; laser linewidth; low-frequency weak-feedback analysis; relative intensity noise; relaxation oscillation sidebands; relaxation oscillations; semiconductor laser stabilization; single mirror; single-mode semiconductor lasers; steady-state noise characteristics; Equations; Laser feedback; Laser noise; Laser stability; Laser theory; Low-frequency noise; Optical coupling; Optical feedback; Semiconductor device noise; Semiconductor lasers;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
