Low-Noise and High-Power GaAlAs Laser Diodes with a New Real Refractive Index Guided Structure

Abstract

We demonstrate for the first time a real refractive index guided GaAlAs laser structure that has both very low-noise characteristics at a low output power (reading mode) and a stable fundamental transverse mode up to a high power level (writing mode) sufficient for optical read-write systems. The low-noise characteristics are realized by self-sustained pulsation which is induced by large saturable absorbers outside a stripe, and the high power is achieved by using a thin active layer which confines the optical flux very loosely. In order to optimize the device parameters, numerical simulation of the structure is proposed with consideration of interaction between optical field and carrier diffusion under gain nonlinearity and carrier diffusion taken into account. The calculated results are verified experimentally. The lasers showed relative intensity noise level less than -135 dB/Hz under 0-20% optical feedback and output power higher than 60 mW.