Nonlinear distortions in the current modulation of non-self-pulsing and weakly self-pulsing GaAs/GaAlAs injection lasers

Nonlinear distortion characteristics of GaAs/GaAlAs injection lasers under analog current modulation were experimentally investigated. In non-self-pulsing lasers, relaxation oscillation (R.O.) plays a heavy role in generating harmonic distortions, in good agreement with theory. Additional distortions generated by microwave mixing in weakly self-pulsing lasers make such lasers unacceptable for wideband analog transmissions unless suitable negative feedback is applied. With such measure taken, both fundamental and the harmonic responses of a self-pulsing laser is indistinguishable from that of a laser with no R.O. resonance.