Relative intensity noise of mode-locked fiber grating external cavity semiconductor lasers

The noise of hybrid soliton pulse source (HSPS) with linearly chirped Gaussian apodized fiber Bragg grating is analyzed by couple-mode equations including spontaneous emission noise when the HSPS is mode-locked. Relative intensity noise is calculated using numerical solutions of these equations. It is shown that transform limited pulses are generated over a wide tuning range around the fundamental mode-locking frequency with low spontaneous noise. However, a high noise level affects the operation of device, and therefore transform-limited pulses are not obtainable over a wide tuning range. It is also shown that noise is extremely sensitive to the RF and DC currents, linewidth enhancement factor, gain saturation parameter and spontaneous coupling factor.     

Noise Effects in the Mode-Locked External Cavity Lasers

Effect of high level of spontaneous and carrier noise on mode-locked hybrid soliton pulse source and relative intensity noise is described. Transform limited pulses are not generated over a wide frequency range because of these noises.     

Actively mode-locked 1.3 and 1.55 μm InGaAsP diode lasers

Active mode-locking of uncoated InGaAsP diode lasers having an external diffraction grating cavity was investigated experimentally. A high frequency r.f. signal and short-duration electrical pulses were used to drive the lasers. The pulse duration was measured by an ultrafast streak camera. Pulses as short as 13 ps at 1.3m and 29 ps at 1.55m were generated at a repetition rate of 1 GHz. The reason for obtaining broader pulses from the 1.55m laser which had the same structure as the 1.3m diode laser is explained.Formerly with GEC Hirst Research Centre, Wembley, Middlesex, UK.     

Small signal intensity modulation of external cavity lasers with fiber Bragg gratings

The small signal intensity modulation (IM) of a hybrid soliton pulse source (HSPS) utilizing Gaussian apodized fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is described using electric field approach. The HSPS is modeled by a time-domain solution of the coupled-mode equations. It is shown that type of external cavity is important effect on resonance peak spectral splitting (RPSS) in IM response as well as effect of laser and FBG parameters. It is also shown that the RPSS can be suppressed by using linearly chirped Gaussian apodized FBG as an external cavity insted of Gaussian apodized FBG.     

Effect of Spontaneous and Carrier Noise on Mode-Locked Hybrid Soliton Pulse Source

Noise characteristics of mode-locked hybrid soliton pulse source (HSPS) where fiber Bragg grating is used as external cavity is presented. Model is based on time-domain solution of coupled-mode equations including spontaneous noise. Relative intensity noise (RIN) is calculated by using numerical solution of these equations. It is shown that inclusion of carrier density noise in the rate equations is necessary for the accurate analysis of noise in mode-locked lasers. It is also found that transform-limited pulses are not generated over a wide tuning range around the fundamental mode-locking frequency with spontaneous and carrier density noise sources if noise level is high. Therefore mode-locking range where transform limited pulses are obtained reduces.     

Intensity noise of mode-locked fiber grating external cavity semiconductor lasers

The noise of hybrid soliton pulse source (HSPS) with linearly chirped Gaussian apodized fiber Bragg grating is analyzed by couple-mode equations including spontaneous emission noise when HSPS is mode-locked. Relative intensity noise (RIN) is calculated using numerical solutions of these equations. It is shown that transform-limited pulses are generated over a wide tuning range around the fundamental mode-locking frequency with low spontaneous noise. However, high noise level affects the operation of device, and therefore transform-limited pulses are not obtainable over a wide tuning range. Linewidth enhancement factor and spontaneous coupling factor are the most effective noise parameters and noise increases with increasing value of these parameters.