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Analysis of laser-amplifier noise: A review of the method and its application to optical communications

Kazuro Kikuchi

Published Jun 7, 2023• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This study summarizes the theory of laser-amplifier noise based on the master equation, the quantum-mechanical Langevin equation, and the rate equation. The three approaches are used differently depending on the application. Laser-amplifier noise in the direct-detection receiver is described by the master equation. Meanwhile, the quantum-mechanical Langevin equation is most effective for analyzing noise appearing in coherent optical communication systems. The rate equation approach provides a clear understanding of the intensity-noise characteristics of laser oscillators, including the amplitude squeezing.

DOI
10.36227/techrxiv.23290742

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This study summarizes the theory of laser-amplifier noise based on the master equation, the quantum-mechanical Langevin equation, and the rate equation. The three approaches are used differently depending on the application. Laser-amplifier noise in the direct-detection receiver is described by the master equation. Meanwhile, the quantum-mechanical Langevin equation is most effective for analyzing noise appearing in coherent optical communication systems. The rate equation approach provides a clear understanding of the intensity-noise characteristics of laser oscillators, including the amplitude squeezing.
This study summarizes the theory of laser-amplifier noise based on the master equation, the quantum-mechanical Langevin equation, and the rate equation. The three approaches are used differently depending on the application. Laser-amplifier noise in the direct-detection receiver is described by the master equation. Meanwhile, the quantum-mechanical Langevin equation is most effective for analyzing noise appearing in coherent optical communication systems. The rate equation approach provides a clear understanding of the intensity-noise characteristics of laser oscillators, including the amplitude squeezing.
The random nature of spontaneous emission leads to unavoidable fluctuations in a laser's output. This is often included through random Langevin forces in laser rate equations, but this approach falls short for nanolasers. In this paper, we show that the laser quantum noise can be quantitatively computed for a very broad class of lasers by starting from simple and intuitive rate equations and merely assuming that the number of photons and excited electrons only takes discrete values. While the approach has seen previous success, we here derive it rigorously from an open quantum system master equation, whereas it was previously introduced only on phenomenological grounds. We further show that in the many-photon limit, the model simplifies to Langevin equations. We perform an extensive comparison of different approaches for computing quantum noise in lasers, identifying the best approach for different system sizes, ranging from nanolasers to macroscopic lasers, and different levels of excitation, i.e., cavity photon number. In particular, we show that below the laser threshold, stochastic fluctuations in the numerical solution to the Langevin equations can drive populations to unphysical negative values, requiring the introduction of population bounds, which in turn skew the noise statistics, leading to inaccuracies. The Laser Markov Chain model, on the other hand, is accurate for all pump values and laser sizes when collective emitter effects are excluded.
We analyze the noise characteristics of an optical transmission system repeated by two-mode phase-sensitive optical parametric amplifiers. In such a system, the non-degenerated signal and idler waves co-propagate through the link, interacting with each other in the optical parametric amplifiers. For the first time, we derive a closed-form expression for the accumulated noise using the quantum-mechanical Langevin-equation approach. The derived noise formula allows calculating the noise figure of the optical-amplifier chain under the influence of the internal loss of the amplifiers and the transmission loss of the link, thereby theoretically demonstrating its low-noise characteristics.
We analyze the noise characteristics of an optical transmission system repeated by two-mode phase-sensitive optical parametric amplifiers. In such a system, the non-degenerated signal and idler waves co-propagate through the link, interacting with each other in the optical parametric amplifiers. For the first time, we derive a closed-form expression for the accumulated noise using the quantum-mechanical Langevin-equation approach. The derived noise formula allows calculating the noise figure of the optical-amplifier chain under the influence of the internal loss of the amplifiers and the transmission loss of the link, thereby theoretically demonstrating its low-noise characteristics.