Feedback-induced line broadening in cw channel-substrate planar laser diodes

Abstract

The effect of optical feedback on the spectral characteristics of channel‐substrate planar single‐mode laser diodes operating at room temperature is reported. The impact on the performance of interferometric sensor systems using such sources is discussed. The linewidth for the free‐running laser at 10‐mW output power was determined to be less than 5 MHz at room temperature. Broadening on the order of 40 times the intrinsic linewidth was observed for 0.1% feedback and increased with increasing feedback. The presence of self‐oscillation modes was observed at 0.04% feedback. Satellite modes symmetrically located with respect to the primary mode appeared in the spectrum for feedback greater than 0.04%. These satellite modes are attributed to self‐oscillation in the laser induced by feedback. As the feedback was increased, the satellite mode spectrum began to overlap that of the primary mode, reducing the effective coherence length from 60 m (for the single‐mode linewidth) to less than a few centimeters.