Abstract

Bistable semiconductor laser diodes (BSLDs) have been investigated. Because they are Fabry-Perot oscillators, they can act as optical switches and amplifiers. In pulsed operation, duty cycle and temperature are shown to be equivalent parameters: critical bistability current for 10 kHz/10 µs pulses at 15°C is exactly the same as for 10 kHz/40 µs pulses at 10°C. Signal laser and BSLD spectra were investigated at different temperatures and injection currents by allowing tuning over 10 nm, the BSLD gain width. Hysteresis cycle width and bistability thresholds can be varied widely in the limited temperature range of 10°-30°C. This fact, combined with spectral tuning by temperature, provides an extremely versatile device. Amplification of 10 dB was obtained for -5 dBm signals (or less), and gain compression was observed for signals above 0 dBm, with saturation at +4 dBm.

© 1992 Optical Society of America