Theory and experiment of high-speed cross-gain modulation in semiconductor lasers

We present theory and experiment for the high-speed modulation response of a quantum-well (QW) laser in the presence of an external microwave modulated optical pump in the gain region. The model includes the effects of pump-induced stimulated recombination and cross-gain saturation. Expressions for the small-signal modulation response of the test laser under gain modulation are derived. We also present experimental results using a multiple-QW InGaAlAs Fabry-Perot (FP) laser at 1.552 /spl mu/m as the test laser and an external pump by a 1.542 /spl mu/m DFB laser. Comparison between electrical modulation and optical cross-gain modulation (XGM) of the test laser is also presented, which shows improvement of the modulation bandwidth by optical XGM. Our data show a reduction of carrier lifetime with increasing optical pumping, a shift of the test-laser threshold current, a change in the K factor, and a variation of the relaxation frequency with different pump powers. The experimental results agree very well with the theoretical results.

[1]  C. Zah,et al.  Unambiguous determination of quantum capture, carrier diffusion, and intrinsic effects in quantum-well laser dynamics using wavelength-selective optical modulation , 1995 .

[2]  D. Vassilovski,et al.  Unambiguous determination of quantum capture, carrier diffusion and intrinsic effects in quantum well laser dynamics using wavelength selective optical modulation , 1995, Proceedings of IEEE 14th International Semiconductor Laser Conference.

[3]  S. Chuang,et al.  Four-wave mixing in a distributed-feedback laser , 1997 .

[4]  K. Inoue,et al.  Tunable and selective wavelength conversion using fiber four-wave mixing with two pump lights , 1994, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[5]  J. LaCourse,et al.  Characterization of the dynamics of semiconductor lasers using optical modulation , 1992 .

[6]  K. Lau,et al.  Ultrahigh efficiency microwave signal transmission using tandem-contact single quantum well GaAlAs lasers , 1989 .

[7]  Kerry J. Vahala,et al.  Parasitic-free modulation of semiconductor lasers , 1989 .

[8]  Marc Sorel,et al.  Dynamic behavior and locking of a semiconductor laser subjected to external injection , 1998 .

[9]  F. Scholz,et al.  Intrinsic modulation bandwidth of strained GaInP/AlGaInP quantum well lasers , 1996, Conference Digest. 15th IEEE International Semiconductor Laser Conference.

[10]  Karl Hess,et al.  Temperature dependence of electrical and optical modulation responses of quantum-well lasers , 1999 .

[12]  Dirk Breuer,et al.  Performance analysis of wavelength converters based on cross-gain modulation in semiconductor-optical amplifiers , 1998 .

[13]  High-speed signal wavelength conversion using a unidirectional-output wavelength conversion device w , 1995 .

[14]  H. Sanjoh,et al.  Wavelength chirping in wavelength conversion of 10 Gb/s signal with semiconductor laser converter , 1996, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[15]  Hideaki Okayama,et al.  1.5 μm band efficient broadband wavelength conversion by difference frequency generation in a periodically domain‐inverted LiNbO3 channel waveguide , 1993 .

[16]  Shun Lien Chuang,et al.  Theory and Experiment of In Ga As P and In Ga Al As Long-Wavelength Strained Quantum-Well Lasers , 1999 .

[17]  Richard V. Penty,et al.  Wavelength conversion at 40 Gbit/s via cross-gain modulation in distributed feedback laser integrated with semiconductor optical amplifier , 1999 .

[18]  Intrinsic modulation bandwidth of strained GaInP/AlGaInP quantum well lasers , 1997 .

[19]  Device With Asymmetric-K DBR Structure , 1995 .

[20]  D.A.O. Davies.  Small-signal analysis of wavelength conversion in semiconductor laser amplifiers via gain saturation , 1995, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[21]  S. L. Danielsen,et al.  All-optical wavelength conversion by semiconductor optical amplifiers , 1996 .

[22]  M. Yoshino,et al.  Improvement of saturation output power in a semiconductor laser amplifier through pumping light injection , 1996, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[23]  C. Su,et al.  Simultaneous measurement of spontaneous emission rate, nonlinear gain coefficient, and carrier lifetime in semiconductor lasers using a parasitic‐free optical modulation technique , 1990 .

[24]  Richard V. Penty,et al.  Wavelength conversion using semiconductor optical amplifiers , 1997 .

[25]  Optical gain and refractive index of a laser amplifier in the presence of pump light for cross-gain and cross-phase modulation , 1997, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[26]  C. Su,et al.  Observation of positive and negative nonlinear gain in an optical injection experiment: Proof of the cavity standing‐wave‐induced nonlinear gain theory in 1.3 μm wavelength semiconductor diode lasers , 1989 .

[27]  B. Glance,et al.  Wavelength conversion at 10 Gb/s using a semiconductor optical amplifier , 1993, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[28]  C. H. Lange,et al.  Theory and experiment of the parasitic‐free frequency response measurement technique using facet‐pumped optical modulation in semiconductor diode lasers , 1989 .

[29]  U. Hilbk,et al.  Polarization insensitive frequency conversion of a 10-channel OFDM signal using four-wave-mixing in a semiconductor laser amplifier , 1994 .

[30]  G. Eisenstein,et al.  Modulation of quantum well lasers by short optical excitation: energy and spatial dependent effects , 1995, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[31]  M. Dagenais,et al.  Wavelength conversion using a T-gate laser , 1996, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[32]  Erich P. Ippen,et al.  Subpicosecond gain dynamics in GaAlAs laser diodes , 1987 .

[33]  J. Eom,et al.  The relation of doping level to K factor and the effect on ultimate modulation performance of semiconductor lasers , 1990, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[34]  C. Zah,et al.  Unambiguous determination of quantum capture, carrier diffusion, and intrinsic effects in quantum-well laser dynamics using wavelength-selective optical modulation , 1994, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[35]  T. Durhuus,et al.  Optical wavelength conversion over 18 nm at 2.5 Gb/s by DBR-laser , 1993, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[36]  Seoung-Hwan Park,et al.  Theory and experiment of In/sub 1-x/Ga/sub x/As/sub y/P/sub 1-y/ and In/sub 1-x-y/Ga/sub x/Al/sub y/As long-wavelength strained quantum-well lasers , 1999 .

[37]  S. Yoo.  Wavelength conversion technologies for WDM network applications , 1996 .

[38]  Masayuki Ishikawa,et al.  Long wavelength high-speed semiconductor lasers with carrier transport effects , 1992 .

[39]  K. Oe,et al.  Tunable optical-wavelength conversion using an optically-triggerable multielectrode distributed feedback laser diode , 1988 .