K. Häusler, R. Staske, G. Erbert, and G. Tränkle

Published in:

Proc. SPIE, vol. 8605, Photonics West, San Francisco, USA, Feb. 02-07, 86050R (2013).

Abstract:

Special applications require low noise wavelength stabilized diode lasers for pumping of solid state lasers. We report on intensity noise in the frequency range of kHz to MHz due to bi-stable mode switching between external cavity modes in laser diodes with volume Bragg grating as external reflector. Two regimes of bi-stability are identified which are attributed to switching between longitudinal or lateral resonator modes. The origin of noise is explained by thermal bi-stability which can be suppressed by proper design of the external resonator. Low noise operation of single mode ridge waveguide lasers is demonstrated having the potential of scaling up the pump power by using ridge waveguide arrays.

Keywords:

laser diodes, space applications, Bragg grating, VBG, mode switching, noise, thermal bi-stability.

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