Influence of semiconductor-laser phase noise on coherent optical communication systems.

Several authors have recently investigated phase noise in semiconductor lasers and the related problems that arise when such lasers are employed in coherent optical communication systems. We report accurate measurements of high-frequency phase noise in single-mode injection lasers that show the presence of a peak in the phase-noise spectrum at the same frequency as that of the amplitude-noise peak. This peculiar phenomenon must be taken into account when one studies the characteristics of coherent optical communication systems.