Microwave/millimeter-wave frequency subcarrier lightwave modulations based on self-sustained pulsation of laser diode

A method of subcarrier lightwave modulation based on the self-sustained pulsation (SSP) of laser diodes is presented. The tunable microwave/millimeter-wave frequency subcarrier is generated by the laser diode itself under proper DC biases. The subcarrier is frequency-modulated when the DC bias is superimposed with a small AC signal. No external modulation is needed. A theoretical analysis based on a double-section laser diode reveals that Hopf bifurcation is the origin of SSP. Theoretical calculations also show that the modulator has the potential of generating subcarriers up to 100 GHz by proper control of the device parameters V-channeled substrate inner-stripe (VSIS) GaAlAs laser diodes were used to generate 1-7-GHz SSP subcarriers. A preliminary subcarrier multiplexing (SCM) experiment demonstrated the transmission of 1-GHz modulation and video signals on a readily FM-modulated 6.3-GHz SSP subcarrier