Sisyphus effect in semiconductor lasers with optical feedback

Author

Van Tartwijk, G.H.M. ; Levine, A.M. ; Lenstra, D.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys. & Astron., Vrije Univ., Amsterdam, Netherlands

Volume

1

Issue

2

fYear

1995

fDate

6/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

466

Lastpage

472

Abstract

We identify the various physical mechanisms in low frequency fluctuations, which occur when a semiconductor laser is subject to moderate optical feedback while operating close to its solitary laser threshold. In attempting to reach the maximum gain mode, which often is stable, the system forms short mode-locked pulses. In between pulses mode-slipping can occur, generally in the direction of maximum gain. Inevitably, the trajectory passes too close to one of the many saddle points, which will take the system back to the solitary laser state

Keywords

fluctuations; laser mode locking; laser modes; laser noise; laser stability; optical feedback; semiconductor lasers; Sisyphus effect; gain mode; low frequency fluctuations; mode-locked pulses; mode-slipping; optical feedback; physical mechanisms; saddle points; semiconductor lasers; solitary laser state; solitary laser threshold; Fluctuations; Laser feedback; Laser mode locking; Laser modes; Laser theory; Optical feedback; Optical pulses; Semiconductor device noise; Semiconductor lasers; Spontaneous emission;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-260X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/2944.401230

Filename

401230