Fast modulation scheme for a two laterally coupled laser diode array

The present letter reports a modulation scheme that takes advantage of the unique characteristics of a two laterally coupled laser diode (also known a s twin stripe array) to overcome the limit on the modulation imposed by the laser's relaxation oscillation frequency. Through the use of the rate equa tion description of the device we uncover the device dynamics behind the mo dulation scheme generating 35 ps (full width at half maximum) laser pulses at 8 Gb/s modulation rate. Our scheme relies on the fast dynamics of the ph ase difference, controlled by means of the current injection on each stripe . (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.