Use of heterojunction lasers with a very nonlinear power-current characteristic

Experimental results are presented on AlAs-GaAs heterojunction lasers in which the stripe geometry of the contacts was fabricated by deep implantation of oxygen ions in the laser structures; such lasers are suitable for use in fiber-optic communications systems. The output characteristics (optical output power vs pump current) of the laser was measured for various widths of the stripe contact and for various temperatures; and the shapes of the output pulses for various pump currents are presented. The results show that it may be possible to make practical use of heterojunction lasers exhibiting very nonlinear output (power-current) characteristics, which do not require devices for correcting the thermal drift of the output power.