OPTICAL BISTABILITY IN ASYMMETRIC FABRY-PEROT LASER-DIODE AMPLIFIERS

We present what is to our knowledge the first study of optical bistabi lity in Fabry-Perot laser-diode amplifiers that have asymmetric facet reflectivities. When operated in reflection, the light input-light out put characteristics exhibit a transition from counterclockwise to cloc kwise hysteresis by way of an X-shaped or butterfly hysteresis. This t ransition can be achieved by a change in either the device bias or the phase detuning of the incident light. Our results are in good agreeme nt with calculation.