Abstract

A tunable three-section distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser diode (LD) is probably the best option for use as the local oscillator in future coherent optical frequency division multiplexing (FDM) systems because it has a much wider continuous tuning range than other types of tunable semiconductor lasers. The intensity noise of such a source becomes an important characteristic, since it is well known that it determines a clear degradation of the receiver sensitivity.¹ In this work a theoretical analysis is performed of the relative intensity noise (RIN) of tunable two-section and three-section DBR LDs by taking into account the actual frequency dependence of the Bragg reflector, the nonlinear gain compression effect, and the possibility of laser operation away from the gain maximum.

© 1991 Optical Society of America