Linewidth enhancement for DFB lasers due to longitudinal field dependence in the laser cavity

Abstract

To calculate the linewidth for an index-guided semiconductor laser, one usually neglects a correction factor for the spontaneous emission rate, which is introduced by the longitudinal field distribution within the laser cavity. For FabryPerot lasers with cleaved facets the correction factor is small. However, for DFB lasers this correction factor may become quite significant, yielding a linewidth enhancement for DFB laser diodes.