Article that comprises a semiconductor laser, and method of operating the article
AssigneeAT&T Bell Laboratories
InventorsVera B. Gorfinkel, Serge Luryi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
We have discovered that coherent variation of at least two laser parameters can result in improved device performance, e.g., in pure amplitude or frequency modulation at frequencies substantially above 1 GHz, or in previously unattainable modulation frequencies. Among the relevant laser parameters are pumping rate, optical gain coefficient, photon lifetime, confinement factor, effective carrier temperature, output frequency and spontaneous emission factor. Exemplarily, the pumping rate and the optical gain are coherently varied such that the output radiation is free of chirp, or the output frequency and the effective carrier temperature are coherently varied such that the output radiation has constant amplitude.
Claims14
Method of operating an article that comprises a semiconductor laser having a radiation output, and that further comprises means for utilizing the radiation output, associated with the laser at least during laser operation being a pumping rate J, an optical gain coefficient g, a photon lifetime .tau..sub.ph, a confinement factor .GAMMA., a spontaneous emission factor .GAMMA., a carrier density n, an effective carrier temperature T.sub.e, an output power P, and an output frequency .OMEGA.;
- the method comprising pumping the laser such that the laser operates in the lasing regime;
- CHARACTERIZED IN THAT
- the method further comprises modulating the radiation output by coherently varying at least two of parameters J, g, .GAMMA., .tau..sub.ph, T.sub.e, .OMEGA. and .beta..
An article that comprises a semiconductor laser having a radiation output, associated with the laser at least during laser operation being a pumping rate J, an optical gain coefficient g, a photon lifetime .tau..sub.ph, a confinement factor .GAMMA., a spontaneous emission factor .beta., a carrier density n, an effective carrier temperature T.sub.e, an output power P and an output frequency .OMEGA.;
- CHARACTERIZED IN THAT
- the article comprises means for coherently varying at least two of parameters J, g, .GAMMA., .tau..sub.ph, T.sub.e, .OMEGA. and .beta..
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.