Laser Diode Modulation

Diaa Khalil

Ain Shams University Electronics & Comm Eng. Dept

Faculty of Eng. 2009 Opt. Comm & Laser Lab

AC analysis
• Small signal ∆J=Jmejwt P

d ∆N J o + ∆J N o + ∆N
= − − vgσ s ( N o + ∆N − N tr )( So + ∆S )
dt ed τn
d ∆S S + ∆S
= vgσ s ( No + ∆N − N tr )( So + ∆S ) − o
dt τ ph
• Use: Ith I
– From DC
J o No S0 No
= − vgσ s ( N o − Ntr ) So vgσ s ( N o − Ntr ) So = −β
To get: ed τ sp τ ph τ sp
d∆N ∆J ∆N d∆S ∆S
= v g σ s ( N o + ∆N ) ∆S + v g σ s S o ∆N −
dt
= −
ed τ s
− vgσ s ( N o + ∆N )∆S − v gσ s S o ∆N & dt τ ph

– For small signal analysis ∆N∆S ≈ 0

d∆N ∆J ∆N d∆S ∆S
= vgσ s N o ∆S + vgσ s S o ∆N −
= − − v g σ s N o ∆S − v g σ s S o ∆N dt τ ph
dt ed τ s

Ain Shams University Electronics & Comm Eng. Dept

Faculty of Eng. 2009 Opt. Comm & Laser Lab

1
 AC Small signal model

• Now for the ac model ∆J=Jmejwt , ∆S=Smejwt & ∆N=Nmejwt

• To get:
J m Nm Sm
jwN m = − − vgσ s N o S m − vgσ s S o N m jwS m = vg σ s N o S m + v gσ s S o N m −
ed τ s τ ph
 1 
• From which we get: (v gσ s S o ) N m =  jw − v gσ s N o + + jw S m
 τ ph 

• Define H(w) = Sm/Jm
1

H (w) = A
w w2
1 + jξ 2 − 2
wr wr
• where
1 vgσ s τ ph
ξ= + So vgσ s ωr2 = So A=
τ sp τ sp ed
Damping factor Relaxation oscillation Low frequency gain

Ain Shams University Electronics & Comm Eng. Dept

Faculty of Eng. 2009 Opt. Comm & Laser Lab

AM Frequency Response
• Second order filter with resonance @ ωr

1
H (w) = A
w w2
1 + jξ 2 − 2
wr wr
ξ
A
ω<<ω
<<ωr
ω>>ω
>>ωr

ωr ω

Ain Shams University Electronics & Comm Eng. Dept

Faculty of Eng. 2009 Opt. Comm & Laser Lab

2
 AC Analysis
• Small signal frequency response
– As So increases 1
H ( w) = A
wr increases w w2
1 + 2 jα 2 − 2
damping increases wr wr

1 vgσ s
ξ= + S o vg σ s ωr2 = So
τ sp τ sp

– 2nd order filter

Ain Shams University Electronics & Comm Eng. Dept

Faculty of Eng. 2009 Opt. Comm & Laser Lab

AC analysis: Digital Delay time

P
• Pulse response
– Time delay td
= Time to threshold
– Below threshold
dN J N
= − Ith I
dt ed τ n
J1τ sp  J τ  − tτ
N (t ) = +  No − 1 sp  e sp I
ed  ed 

– Then t=td 
N=Nth S

∆ t
 J − Jo 
t d = τ sp ln 1 
 J1 − J th  toff t
td

Ain Shams University Electronics & Comm Eng. Dept

Faculty of Eng. 2009 Opt. Comm & Laser Lab

3
 Laser FM Response
• When modulating the laser diode current J, we get two
effects:
• Thermal effect ∆J
∆T
∆n
∆fo
Thermo optic effect
Low frequency effect
• Electronic Effect ∆J
∆N
∆n
∆fo
Plasma effect
High frequency
• We may define an AM/FM transfer function HFM(ω)as

∆f o
H FN (ω ) =
∆I

Ain Shams University Electronics & Comm Eng. Dept

Faculty of Eng. 2009 Opt. Comm & Laser Lab

Electronic effect
• Moving free electrons act as a plasma and react to the electric field
• Thus if E=Eoejωω t for the free e- m*dv/dt = - e Eoejωω t
• The resultant ac current density is J=eNv where the electron velocity
is given by:
eE 2
e N
v= j J= j E
ωm* ωm*
• Now, from Maxwell’s equations we have
dD e2 N d (ε oε r E )
∇× H = J + = j *
E+ = jωε oε r' E
2
dt ωm dt
• As we have n =εr
• Thus we get:  e2 N 
e2 N or ∆n = n 2 
* 
'
n = n 1−
ω 2ε oε r m*  2ω ε oε r m 

Ain Shams University Electronics & Comm Eng. Dept

Faculty of Eng. 2009 Opt. Comm & Laser Lab

4
 Frequency Chirping
• As we have ∆I
∆N
Gain Change

Optical frequency change
• AM modulation is associated with FM modulation

Chirping
• Let n=nr+jnim
∆ gain  ∆nim while ∆f  ∆nr
• For Sc laser we define the parameter αe as
∆nr
αe =
∆nim
• Typically we have αe = 4 - 6

Ain Shams University Electronics & Comm Eng. Dept

Faculty of Eng. 2009 Opt. Comm & Laser Lab

Laser diode FM Response

• Low frequency
1st order filter
• Second order filter with resonance @ ωr

Low frequency High frequency

thermal effect electronic effect

ω<<ω
<<ωr
ω>>ω
>>ωr

ωr ω

Ain Shams University Electronics & Comm Eng. Dept

Faculty of Eng. 2009 Opt. Comm & Laser Lab