Handbook of Distributed Feedback Laser Diodes

Geert Morthier is researcher and group leader at the Department of Information Technology, University of Gent - IMEC, where he also received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering. He has conducted research on DFB lasers for the past ten years, and has published more than fifty technical papers and articles. Patrick Vankwikelberge currently works on process engineering in Alcatel's Corporate Business Processes and Information Systems Department. A researcher in telecommunications for nearly a decade, he received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Gent.

• Introduction to Fabry-Perot and DFB Laser Diodes: Historical Background. Laser Diode Device Structure. Operation of the Laser Diode. Essential Laser Diode Characteristics. Use of Laser Diodes in Optical Communication Systems. Dynamic Single Mode (DSM) Laser Diodes. Organization of this Book. Rate Equation Theory of Laser Diodes: Carrier Density Rate Equation. Photon Density Rate Equation. Phase Equations. Introducing Noise in the Rate Equations. Optical Gain and Absorption. Some Well-Known Solutions of the Rate Equations. The Influence of External Reflections. Coupled Mode Theory of DFB Laser Diodes: The Physical Processes Inside a Laser Diode. The Need for Simplification. Assumptions About the Modeled Laser Structure. Optical Wave Propagation. Discussion of the Coupled Mode Wave Equations. The Electrical Transport Problem. The Standing Wave Effect in Gain Coupled Lasers. The Boundary Conditions. Applying the Coupled Mode Theory: Treshold Solutions for Simple DFB Lasers. Numerical Solutions of the Coupled Mode Model. The Narrowband Approach for Solving the Coupled Mode Model. The Broadband Approach for Solving the Coupled Mode Model. Derivation of the Rate Equations. Longitudinal Spatial Hole Burning. Coupling Coefficients for DFB Lasers. A Closer Look at the Carrier Injection: Heterojunctions and Semi-Insulating Materials. Carrier Leakage Over Heterobarriers. Carrier Injection in Gain-Guided and Weakly Index-Guided Lasers. Lateral Current Leakage in Index-Guided Structures. Parasitic Elements. Microwave Effects. Circuit Modeling of Leakage and Parasitics. The Spectrum of DFB Laser Diodes: Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE). Side Mode Rejection and Yield of DFB Lasers. Degradation of the SMSR by Spatial Hole Burning. The Wavelength Tunability of DFB Lasers. Measurement of the ASE Spectrum in DFB Lasers. Extraction of Device Parameters from the Spectrum. The IM and FM Behavior of DFB Laser Diodes: Measuring the IM Response of Laser Diodes. Measuring the FM Response of Laser Diodes. The IM Response. The FM Response. Lateral Spatial Hole Burning. Dynamics of Quantum Well Lasers. Designing High Speed DFB Lasers. Harmonic and Intermodulation Distortion in DFB Laser Diodes: Measuring the Harmonic Distortion. Influence of the Relaxation Oscillations. Influence of Gain Suppression. Influence of the Spatial Hole Burning. Influence of Leakage Currents. Dips in the Bias and Frequency Dependence of the Distortion. Relation with CSO and CTB. Designing Highly Linear DFB Lasers. Noise Characteristics of DFB Laser Diodes: Measuring Noise Characteristics. FM Noise in DFB Lasers. Linewidth of DFB Lasers. Causes of Linewidth Rebroadening in DFB Lasers. Relative Intensity Noise (RIN) of DFB Lasers. Designing Highly Coherent DFB Lasers. Fabrication and Packaging of DFB Laser Diodes: Laser Diode Fabrication Techniques. Grating Fabrication Techniques. Packaging of DFB Laser Diodes. Epilogue: Trends in Optical Transmission and the Impact on DFB Lasers. Future Directions in Design and Manufacturing of DFB Lasers.