Japanese Journal of Applied Physics
Optical Bistability in a Semiconductor Laser Amplifier
Tetsuya Nakai, Nagaatsu Ogasawara, Ryoichi Ito
Abstract
Optical bistability has been observed in a semiconductor laser operating as an amplifier. The bistability arises from the refractive index change due to a decrease in the active-region carrier density accompanied by optical amplification. Output pulsations due to the competition between the free-carrier and thermal effects have also been observed.