Analysis of the phase-amplitude coupling factor and spectral linewidth of distributed feedback and composite-cavity semiconductor lasers

Abstract

A Green's function approach to the analysis of semiconductor lasers is formulated in a form suitable for complex cavity structures. Both the spontaneous emission rate and the effective phase-amplitude coupling factor can be accurately evaluated. For distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers, the spontaneous emission rate is strongly dependent on both the facet reflectivities and the grating coupling coefficients. The effective phase-amplitude coupling factor depends on the wavelength detuning from the gain maximum. The calculated linewidth of DFB lasers differs considerably from previous calculated results and gives better agreement with experimental results. For composite-cavity lasers, the frequency dependence of the equivalent reflectivity has a strong impact on the phase-amplitude coupling factor and the spontaneous emission rate. Distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers are investigated as an example of a composite-cavity structure.