Abstract

We experimentally study the dynamical behavior of longitudinally coupled semiconductor lasers. The experimental set-up consists in two single longitudinal mode vertical cavity surface emitter lasers (VCSELs) operating nearly at the same optical frequency. A 50% beam splitter separates the output intensity of each laser while an acousto-optic modulator inserted between the two lasers allows changing the amount of coupling by reducing the transmitted field The detected outputs are digitized by a fast oscilloscope and sent to a computer for further analysis. Furthermore a Fabry-Perot analyzer is used to compare the optical spectrum of each laser The coupling constant can be also varied through the detuning between the frequency of the two isolated lasers, which in turn is controlled through the temperature.

© 2000 IEEE