Ta. Heumier et Jl. Carlsten, DETECTING MODE HOPPING IN SEMICONDUCTOR-LASERS BY MONITORING INTENSITY NOISE, IEEE journal of quantum electronics, 29(11), 1993, pp. 2756-2761
Mode-hopping semiconductor lasers exhibit intensity fluctuations which
are correlated to the level of mode-hopping activity. It is shown tha
t these fluctations occur at a level that is easily measured. A plot o
f these fluctuations versus laser case temperature and injection curre
nt displays periodicities in the conditions under which mode hopping o
ccurs. We explain these regularities in terms of the peak gain wavelen
gth passing the longitudinal mode wavelength as temperature changes. W
e use the fact that the laser's junction temperature depends on both t
he case temperature and on the injection current. We note that the ons
et of mode hopping also depends on the transition from multimode to si
ngle-mode operation. Implications for control of mode hopping are disc
ussed.