Laser Diode Modulation and Noise

Laser diodes represent a key element in the emerging field of opto electronics which includes, for example, optical communication, optical sensors or optical disc systems. For all these applications, information is either transmitted, stored or read out. The performance of these systems depends to a great deal on the performance of the laser diode with regard to its modulation and noise characteristics. Since the modulation and noise characteristics of laser diodes are of vital importance for optoelectronic systems, the need for a book arises that concentrates on this subject. This book thus closes the gap between books on the device physics of semiconductor lasers and books on system design. Complementary to the specific topics concerning modulation and noise, the first part of this book reviews the basic laser characteristics, so that even a reader without detailed knowledge of laser diodes may follow the text. In order to understand the book, the reader should have a basic knowledge of electronics, semiconductor physics and optical communica tions. The work is primarily written for the engineer or scientist working in the field of optoelectronics; however, since the book is self-contained and since it contains a lot of numerical examples, it may serve as a textbook for graduate students. In the field of laser diode modulation and noise a vast amount has been published during recent years. Even though the book contains more than 600 references, only a small part of the existing literature is included.

1 Introduction. - 2 Basic Laser Characteristics. - 2. 1 Double heterostructure characteristics. - 2. 2 Direct and indirect semiconductors. - 2. 3 Emission and absorption. - 2. 4 Lasing characteristics of Fabry Perot-type lasers. - 2. 5 Dynamic single-mode laser structures. - References. - 3 Longitudinal Mode Spectrum of Lasing Emission. - 3. 1 Multimode rate equations. - 3. 2 Spectral envelope for Fabry Perot-type lasers (linear gain). - 3. 3 Influence of nonlinear gain on the spectral characteristics. - References. - 4 Intensity-Modulation Characteristics of Laser Diodes. - 4. 1 Modulation characteristics by studying single-mode rate equations. - 4. 2 Influence of lateral carrier diffusion on relaxation oscillation damping. - 4. 3 Modulation bandwidth limits due to parasitic elements. - 4. 4 Examples for high speed modulation of laser diodes. - 4. 5 Modulation and longitudinal mode spectrum. - 4. 6 Modulation with binary signals. - 4. 7 Harmonic and intermodulation distortions (without fibre interaction). - References. - 5 Frequency-Modulation Characteristics of Laser Diodes. - 5. 1 Relation between intensity-modulation and frequency modulation. - 5. 2 Current/frequency-modulation characteristics. - 5. 3 Chirp effects in directly modulated laser diodes. - 5. 4 Possibilities of modifying the chirp parameter ? . - References. - 6 Instabilities and Bistability in Laser Diodes. - 6. 1 Repetitive self-pulsations due to lateral instabilities. - 6. 2 Instability and bistability in laser diodes with segmented contacts. - References. - 7 Noise Characteristics of Solitary Laser Diodes. - 7. 1 Relative intensity noise (RIN). - 7. 2 Introduction of the spontaneous emission noise. - 7. 3 Intensity noise of laser diodes. - 7. 4 Statistics of intensity noise. - 7. 5 Mode partition noise for the transmission of pulse-code modulated(PCM)-signals. - 7. 6 Phase and frequency noise. - References. - 8 Noise in Interferometers Including Modal Noise and Distortions. - 8. 1 Noise in interferometers. - 8. 2 Modal noise. - 8. 3 Modal noise and distortions in single-mode fibres. - References. - 9 Semiconductor Lasers with Optical Feedback. - 9. 1 Amplitude and phase conditions for laser diodes with external cavities. - 9. 2 Dynamics of laser diodes with external reflections. - 9. 3 Laser diodes with distant reflections. - References. - 10 Laser Diodes with Negative Electronic Feedback. - 10. 1 Modulation characteristics of laser diodes with negative electronic feedback. - 10. 2 Linewidth narrowing and phase noise reduction with negative electronic feedback. - References. - 11 Circuitry for Driving the Laser Diode. - 11. 1 Schemes for stabilizing the bias current. - 11. 2 Laser drivers with optoelectronic integration. - References.