High Power, Single Optical Frequency, Composite-Cavity Laser Diodes

A composite-cavity laser diode demonstrated high power, single optical frequency operation under both CW and modulated conditions. This device consisted of an Al GaAs CSP laser coupled to an external cavity constructed from a 1 mm long single mode ion exchange waveguide. With an average optical power of 10 mW, the composite-cavity laser diode demonstrated a sidemode suppression ratio greater than 577:1 under CW conditions and a side mode suppression ratio of greater than 100:1 under modulation with a modulation index of 1.10 at 100 Mbps.