High frequency stability of laser diode for heterodyne communication systems

Abstract

The emission frequency of a single-mode GaAlAs laser diode was locked to a Fabry-Perot interferometer reference by using a high sensitivity and fast response feedback loop controlling the injection current. Long-term fluctuations have been reduced to 8 MHz with a short-term jitter less than 1.5 MHz. These figures are consistent with the requirements of heterodyne communication systems above 140 Mbit/s.