Measurement of intrinsic frequency response of semiconductor lasers using optical modulation

Abstract

For the first time, optical modulation is used to determine the intrinsic frequency response of a laser diode. It is shown that the shape of the measured frequency response agrees very well with the predicted intrinsic response of semiconductor lasers. As anticipated, the measured frequency response lacks the frequency rolloff that occurs with direct RF current modulation. The resonant frequencies measured are shown to be proportional to the square root of the probe laser bias power and the damping rates are found to be linear in power, in agreement with expectations.