A novel method for determination of the maximum stable feedback level in laser diodes

A simple method is presented for determining the minimum feedback level req uired for the onset of instability and chaos in semiconductor laser diodes. Using this method, the positions of the pair of dominant system poles in t he s-plane are found for varying levels of feedback. This analysis determin es the feedback level required to send the system unstable. The results are applicable for both long and short external cavities. The method is ideall y suited to the prediction of system stability from measurements of microwa ve modulation response or relative intensity noise (RIN) spectrum, since it only requires knowledge of the natural frequency and damping frequency of the dominant s-plane poles of the laser diode without optical feedback. Cop yright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.