15 January 1998

Optics Communications 146 Ž1998. 325–338

Full length article

Intensity fluctuations correlation for a Fabry Perot semiconductor
laser: A semiclassical analysis
¨
Jean-Luc Vey ) , Karsten Auen, Wolfgang Elsaßer
¨ Angewandte Physik, Technische Hochschule Darmstadt, Schlossgartenstrasse 7, D-64289 Darmstadt, Germany
Institut fur
Received 2 December 1996; revised 26 June 1997; accepted 30 June 1997

Abstract

The correlation between the amplitude fluctuations of two laser beams emitted by a semiconductor laser is calculated
using a semiclassical laser model including vacuum fluctuations present at the laser facets as well as phenomena such as
spatial hole burning and gain suppression. A thorough analysis shows strong influence of the laser structure and parameters.
We concentrate on the case of Fabry Perot lasers where we demonstrate that a direct connection between amplitude noise
and the correlations exists. A detailed analysis shows the influence of internal loss, gain suppression and spatial hole
burning. Finally, a direct comparison with obtained experimental results is performed. q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

1. Introduction

The statistical properties of light have attracted for a long time the attention of the scientific community. The first aspects
are the characteristics of a single beam with emphasis on the amplitude noise properties and fluctuations of the field w1,2x.
Mastering of the light statistics has been one of the main goals, leading to the generation of light which noise is below the
quantum limit or shot-noise, i.e., squeezed states of light w3,4x.
Another interesting aspect is the correlation between different photon beams. For example, twin photon beams generated
with non-linear crystals can be used to generate very low noise currents or even amplitude squeezed states in a very efficient
way w5,6x. However, generating these highly correlated beams with a crystal is not so easily performed and therefore the
possibility of a direct generation from a semiconductor laser has been proposed. Few experimental works have studied the
correlation properties of semiconductor lasers w7x. Further experiments on amplitude w8,9x and field fluctuations w10x have
shown special features and interesting perspectives.
In this paper, we present a theoretical analysis of the correlations between the fluctuations of the amplitude of two laser
beams emitted from the two facets of a semiconductor laser. These calculations give an analytical formula for the correlation
spectrum. It takes fully into account gain suppression, spatial hole burning and other semiconductor laser related phenomena.
This model closely linked to the laser structure, enables to explain and analyse the existing experimental results. We find a
direct connection between the occurrence of a strong negative correlation and the generation of squeezed states. The sign and
the amount of correlation changes when internal loss, gain suppression or spatial hole burning are taken into account.
The paper is structured as follows: in Section 2, the general model and equations are given, with an analytical formula for
the correlation spectrum. The case of a Fabry Perot laser is then studied in Section 3 showing the strong influence of the
laser parameters and also the direct connection between the achievable amount of correlation and the quantum statistics of a
single beam. In Section 4, a more complex description of semiconductor lasers is considered and the influence of internal
loss, gain suppression and spatial hole burning are discussed, pointing out the limitation of the achievable amount of

)
E-mail: jean_luc.vey@physik.tu_darmstadt.de.

0030-4018r98r$19.00 q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

PII S 0 0 3 0 - 4 0 1 8 Ž 9 7 . 0 0 3 5 7 - X
326 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338

negative correlation. In Section 5, first experimental results are presented and discussed. Finally, conclusions are drawn in
Section 6.

2. Theoretical model

A semiclassical description introduced in Refs. w11,12x is used to calculate the noise properties of a semiconductor laser.
The Green’s function method is used to solve the scalar Helmholtz equation for the field propagating along the longitudinal
axis. In this model, vacuum fluctuations present at the laser facets are considered w5x and are introduced as additive Langevin
noise forces:
f 0 Ž t . d Ž z . q f LŽ t . d Ž z y L . . Ž1.
The first and second term represent the contribution of the vacuum fluctuations transmitted inside the cavity at respectively
the right and left facet of the laser structure as presented in Fig. 1. For a time scale larger than the round trip time inside the
cavity t , these forces are approximated w5x using
t t
'
f 0 Ž t . s 1 y R1 ( V
f vac Ž t . '
and f LŽ t . s 1 y R 2 ( V
f vac Ž t . , Ž 2a .

with ² f vac Ž t . f vac Ž tX . : s 12 d Ž t y tX . ,

)
Ž 2b.
where V is the volume of the active section, t the round trip time of the light inside the cavity and R 1 and R 2 the left and
right power facet reflectivities.
To have a complete description of the noise forces, it is necessary to introduce a noise force linked to the absorption
inside the laser cavity w5,13x. This additive noise force has the following statistics:
1 1 1 1
² f loss Ž t . f loss Ž tX . : s d Ž t y tX . , with
)
s q s ng a int q ng a mirror , Ž3.
2t P lossV tP t P loss t P mirror
where a int is the internal loss, a mirror the distributed mirror loss and t P the photon lifetime inside the cavity.
Using the Green’s function method, rate equations for the internal photon density P and the field phase F are obtained to
which a third equation is added for the carrier density N inside the cavity:
dP L
s2 H0 Im Ž WN . D N Ž z . d z P Ž t . q Re Ž GNL . Ž N,S . P Ž t . q FP Ž t . , Ž 4a.
dt
df L
sv0yvy H0 Re Ž WN . D N Ž z . d z q 12 Im Ž GN L . Ž N, S . q Ff Ž t . , Ž 4b.
dt
d N Ž z ,t .
s J Ž z , t . y R Ž N Ž z , t . . y ng g Ž z , t . S Ž z , t . q FN Ž z , t . , Ž 4c .
dt
with the notation of Ref. w14x.
By linearisation of these equations around the steady state and a Fourier transform analysis, the fluctuations of the photon
density and of the phase of the electromagnetic field are given by the following equations:
FP L
DPŽV .s q H0 H Ž z , V . Ž D J Ž z . q F
p N . d z, Ž 5a.
L 2
j V y GNLPr P q H0 U Ž z . AŽ z . < Z Ž z . <
2 0 dz

L 2
H0 U Ž z . AŽ z . < Z Ž z . <
1 0 d z q 12 GN LPi
L
DvŽV . s FP q Ff q 2p H0 H Ž z , V . Ž D J Ž z . q F
f N . d z. Ž 5b.
L 2
j V y GNLPr P q H0 U Ž z . AŽ z . < Z Ž z . <
2 0 dz

To be able to calculate the different noise spectra, one has to know the statistics of the three Langevin noise forces FP , Ff
and FN . In the remaining part of this paper, the statistics of the considered Langevin noise forces are defined as follows,
² FX Ž t . FY Ž tX . : s 2 D X Y d Ž t y tX .
)
where X ,Y g  P ,F , N 4 . Ž6.
 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338 327

The incoming vacuum fluctuations as well as the noise introduced by the losses inside the cavity are taken into account in
our description. This gives rise to a modification of the statistics of the two Langevin noise forces FP and Ff :

RŽ NŽ z ..
2 DNN Ž z , V . s2 ng g Ž z . n sp S Ž z . q V, 2 DN P Ž z , V . s y2 ng g Ž z . n sp S Ž z . rV ,
te

P 1
q t Ž 1 y R 1 . < Z1 Ž 0 . < 2 q t Ž 1 y R 2 . < Z1 Ž L . < 2
2 DPP s 2
V ž ž
R sp q
t P loss // ,

1 1
q t Ž 1 y R 1 . < Z1 Ž 0 . < 2 q t Ž 1 y R 2 . < Z1 Ž L . < 2
2 Dff s
2 PV ž ž
R sp q
t P loss // , Ž 7a.

where
Z0 Ž 0 . Z0 Ž L .
Z1Ž 0 . s k 0 n and Z1Ž L . s k 0 n . Ž 7b.
EWrEv EWrEv
With these definitions and after a simple calculation, the internal amplitude and frequency noise spectra are given by
analytical expressions:
)
²D P Ž V . D P Ž V . : L DNN Ž z , V . DPP
SA int Ž V . s sL H0 < HP Ž z , V . < 2 d z q < C1 Ž V . < 2
4P 4P 4P
L D PN Ž z , V . )
q 2 Re
ž H0 4P
C1Ž V . H P Ž z , V . d z ,
/ Ž8.

) L )
Sv int Ž V . s ² D v Ž V . D v Ž V . : s 2 Re žH 0
D PN Ž z , V . C2 Ž V . Hf Ž z , V . d z /
L
qL H0 D NN Ž z , V . < Hf Ž z , V . < 2 d z q DP P < C2 Ž V . < 2 q Dff , Ž9.
where
1
C1Ž V . s , Ž 10a.
L 2
j V y Re Ž GNL P . P q H0 U Ž z . AŽ z . < Z Ž z . <
2 0 dz

L 2
1
H0 U Ž z . AŽ z . < Z Ž z . <
1 0 d zq
2
Im Ž GN L P .
C2 Ž V . s , Ž 10b.
L 2
j V y Re Ž GNL P . P q H0 U Ž z . AŽ z . < Z Ž z . <
2 0 dz

and with the notations of Ref. w14x.

These formulas have the advantage of taking into account semiconductor laser typical phenomena such as gain
suppression w11x, spatial hole burning w12x and also the semiconductor laser structure, as, e.g., DBR and DFB lasers, which is
very important for the noise properties w12,13x.
The noise emitted by the laser or external noise is far more interesting than the noise inside the cavity, which cannot be
measured. To calculate the external noise spectra, one has to use an equation which links the internal and external fields

Fig. 1. Schematic of the laser structure including the noise forces.

328 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338

Eint Ž t . and E1,2 Ž t .. Using the notations of Fig. 1, the field at the left and right facets of the laser E1Ž t . and E2Ž t . are
obtained:
V
'
E1Ž t . s 1 y R1 ( t
'
Eint Ž t . y R1 f vac Ž t ,0 . , Ž 11a.

V
'
E2 Ž t . s 1 y R 2 ( t
'
Eint Ž t . y R 2 f vac Ž t , L . , Ž 11b.

where R 1 and R 2 are the left and right power facet reflectivity and Eint Ž t . is the time dependent part of the internal field.
Using the same method as for the internal noise, the amplitude and phase noise spectra of the two emitted external beams
are obtained. They are given by
R1 1 y R1 1 y R1
SE1Ž V . s q Sint Ž V . y R e Ž Z1 Ž 0 . . R e Ž C 2 Ž V . . , Ž 12a.
4 t t
R2 1 y R2 1 y R2
SE2Ž V . s q Sint Ž V . y R e Ž Z1 Ž L . . R e Ž C 2 Ž V . . , Ž 12b.
4 t t
where Sint Ž V . represents the internal amplitude noise.
On the basis of these equations for the noise one can now calculate the fluctuation correlation spectrum SE1 E2Ž V .
considering that there is no correlation between the vacuum fluctuations at the two laser facets:

'1 y R '1 y R
1 2
Sint Ž V . y
'R 1 '
Re Ž Z1Ž 0 . . Re Ž C2 Ž V . . q R 2 Re Ž Z1Ž L . . Re Ž C2 Ž V . .
. Ž 13 .
t t 2

Furthermore, we introduce a normalized correlation spectrum CorŽ V . defined as

SE1 E2Ž V .
Cor Ž V . s . Ž 14.
(S E1 (
Ž V . SE2Ž V .
Some simplifications in the formula for the noise spectra and correlation can be made for the case of a simple Fabry Perot
laser because the field inside the cavity may be considered in a first step as constant. With these conditions, the statistics of
the three considered Langevin noise forces are simplified as follows:
2 2
1 1 y R1 '
1 q R1 '
1 q R2 1 y R2
2 DPP s 2 R sp P q 2 P
ž t P loss
q
t ž 2'R 1 / ž
2
q
2'R 2 / /
2
t
, Ž 15a.

1 1 1 y R1 '
1 q R1 '
1 q R2 1 y R2
2 Dff s
2 PV ž ž R sp q
t P loss
q
t ž 2'R 1 / ž q
2'R 2 / // t
. Ž 15b.

We shall emphasize and discuss our results by considering in this paper two cases for the pump noise. The first one called
‘normal pumping’ corresponds to a Poissonian pump noise, the second one is ‘quiet pumping’ which corresponds to no
pump noise at all. The pump noise term appears only in FN Ž z, t . and consequently the only modified correlation factor
when the laser is quietly pumped is D NN which is given for these conditions w12,13x by

2 DNN s 2 Ž n sp y 1 . ng gP q Nrte , Ž 16.

where te is the electron lifetime and N the average carrier density inside the cavity.
In this case, a simple analytical formula for the internal amplitude noise can be deduced from Ž8.:
A int P V 2 q Bint P
Sint Ž V . s 2
, Ž 17a.
Ž V 02 y V 2 . q V 2rtr2
with
2 DP P 2 ng g d
A int P s 2 DP P , Bint P s q 2 DN N Png g d Ž . q 4 PDN P . Ž 17b.
tr2 tr
 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338 329

The amplitude noise emitted at the two laser facets can also be expressed in a simple way when such a case is considered:
R1 Ž 1 y R1 . Ž 1 q 'R1 . V 02 Ž1 y R1 . V A int P V 2 q Bint P
SE1Ž V . s y 2
q 2
, Ž 18a.
4 4ttr Ž V 02 y V 2 . q V 2rtr2 t Ž V 02 y V 2 . q V 2rtr2

R2 Ž 1 y R 2 . Ž 1 q 'R 2 . V 02 Ž1 y R 2 . V A int P V 2 q Bint P

SE2Ž V . s y 2
q 2
. Ž 18b.
4 4ttr Ž V 02 y V 2 . q V 2rtr2 t Ž V 02 y V 2 . q V 2rtr2
Under these conditions also, a simple equation describes the correlation spectrum,
2
'1 y R '1 y R
1 2 V R0 '
1 q R1 1 q R2 '
SE1 E2Ž V . s
t t
Sint Ž V . y
tR Ž 2
V R0 y V 2 q V 2rt R2 . ž 4
q
4 / , Ž19 .

where V R0 is the relaxation frequency and t R the effective electron lifetime defined by
1 1
s q ng g d P . Ž 20.
tR te
All these analytical formulas enable us to obtain the normalized correlation spectrum CorŽ V . as a function of the laser
structural parameters as well as the laser pumping current. Using these formulas in this simple case, we shall now study the
influence of different laser parameters such as the laser facet reflections on the correlation spectrum in this simple case.

Fig. 2. External amplitude noise spectra ŽUpper part.. Normalized correlation spectrum and normalized correlation spectrum Žlower part. for
a normally pumped high reflection coated Fabry Perot laser for several pumping levels R p s 0.1 Ž1., 0.25, 5, 1, 2.5 and 10 Ž6..
330 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338

Furthermore, in a more complex description, we will study the influence of internal loss, gain suppression as well of spatial
hole burning using in these cases the complete formulas for the noise and correlation spectra.

3. Analysis of a simple Fabry Perot structure

For a simple Fabry Perot laser and in first approximation, the field can be considered in most cases as constant inside the
cavity, which means that first the effect of spatial hole burning is not considered. The spatial hole burning influence will be
studied thereafter. In all the presented graphs, the noise spectra presented correspond to the noise emitted by one of the laser
facets.
The normalized correlation spectrum depends strongly on the pumping conditions and the pumping current applied to the
laser. Figs. 2 and 3 present for a high reflection coated symmetric Fabry Perot laser Ž R 1 s R 2 s 0.8. the shot-noise
normalized emitted intensity noise SŽ V . as well as the normalized intensity correlation spectrum CorŽ V . for the two
pumping schemes and different pump levels R p s I r Ith y 1 where Ith is the laser threshold current and I the pumping
current applied to the laser. In Fig. 2, the laser is normally pumped and in Fig. 3 quietly pumped.
The most interesting part of the correlation spectrum is the low frequency region where the difference between a classical
and a quantum state can be seen. Positive correlation due to an excess noise linked to strong spontaneous emission can be
obtained close to threshold. On the contrary, negative correlations are obtained highly above threshold when the laser emits
non-classical states. As can be directly deduced from a comparison of the upper and lower parts of Figs. 2 and 3, a negative
correlation corresponds to an intensity noise at this frequency below the shot-noise level and a positive correlation to an

Fig. 3. Normalized correlation spectrum and external amplitude noise spectra Župper part. and normalized correlation spectrum Žlower part.
for a quietly pumped high reflection coated Fabry Perot laser for several pumping levels R p s 0.1 Ž1., 0.25, 5, 1, 2.5 and 10 Ž6..
 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338 331

Fig. 4. Normalized correlation spectrum at low frequency CorŽ0. at high emitted power as a function of the facet power reflection
coefficients R1 and R 2 when the laser is normally pumped Ža. and quietly pumped Žb..

excess noise compared to the shot-noise level. There seems to be a direct link of the sign and amount of correlation with the
intensity noise emitted by the structure.
The other interesting feature is that the correlation at low frequency is strongly decreasing towards y1 with increasing
pump level R p . Consequently, the correlation in the high power and low frequency limits represents an ultimate limit which
dependences we shall now study in more detail. Let us first look at the influence of the laser parameters, for example the
facets reflectivities.
The normalized correlation spectrum at low frequency and the high power limit for a Fabry Perot laser is given by a
function only depending on these two power reflection coefficients. The intensity fluctuation correlation spectrum at low
frequency and high emitted power when the laser is normally pumped Ža. and quietly pumped Žb. are presented as a function
of R 1 and R 2 in Fig. 4 for a laser without internal loss.
We find a strong difference of this correlation depending on the pumping conditions. When using a normal pump, the
correlation is always positive. When quietly pumped, it becomes negative only when the laser emits on one side light with
an intensity noise lower than the shot-noise. Furthermore, this correlation decreases towards y1 with increasing reflection
coefficients. A high reflection coated Fabry Perot laser would enable to generate highly correlated or anti-correlated beams
and therefore to generate currents with noise below the shot-noise level by mixing the two detected photocurrents obtained
from the two sides of the laser.
A very interesting example is when the two laser facet reflections are equal that is to say R1 s R 2 s R. In this case, the
correlation at low frequency is given at high emitted power by the following equation, without considering spatial hole
burning:
° 1yR 1yR 1 q 'R
2
1 q 'R
ln Ž R . ln Ž R . ž 2'R / y
2
Normal pump
2 2
1yR 1 q 'R 1 q 'R 1 y R

~
Cor Ž 0 . s
1q
ž ln Ž R . /ž 2'R / q
2 ln Ž R .
2 Ž 21.
1yR 1yR 1 q 'R 1 q 'R 1
ln Ž R . ln Ž R . ž 2'R / y
2
y
2
Quiet pump
2
1yR 1yR 1 q 'R 1 1 q 'R 1 y R
¢1 q ž lnŽ R . / ž ln Ž R . /ž 2'R / y
2
q
2 ln Ž R .
332 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338

Fig. 5. Normalized correlation spectrum at low frequency and high emitted power for a symmetric Fabry Perot laser as a function of the
facet power reflection coefficient R.

which can be simplified in the simple and descriptive form:

SN
Cor Ž 0 . s 1 y Ž 22.
SE Ž 0 .

where SN represents the shot-noise level for the intensity noise.

Fig. 5 presents for this case the amplitude noise of the emitted laser beams and the amplitude fluctuations correlation at
low frequency and high emitted power as a function of R. It must be noticed that under these conditions, the amplitude noise
normalized by the shot-noise can reach a minimum value equal to 0.5 and the correlation a value of y1. This simple
equation and the results confirm the direct connection between the emitted noise and the correlation spectrum in the low
frequency range. Also, for high reflection coefficients, the normalized correlation at low frequency becomes close to y1.
Similar results for this limit may be obtained with a simplified model using a beam splitter description for the division of the
light by the two laser facets w15x. This similarity exists only when the laser is pumped very high above threshold as the
influence of spontaneous emission can be neglected.
Consequently, this kind of laser is a good candidate to generate highly correlated or highly anticorrelated light beams.
Some other methods have already been demonstrated like two photon generation scheme with non-linear crystals w16x or
using highly efficient diodes in parallel w17x. These twin beams have a wide range of applications such as absorption
spectroscopy, Mach Zender interferometry and laser Doppler anemometry w18x. In this case, the use of squeezed light has
already brought a better measurement sensitivity w18x and the use of twin beams gives the possibility of further improvement.
The technic to generate directly two anticorrelated photon beams from one single laser has advantages compared to the
simple and equivalent scheme using a laser and a beam splitter. Using a beam splitter may introduce extra loss directly or
indirectly, if some additive optics is needed. This loss induces limitations which do not appear in our compact scheme.
 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338 333

Fig. 6. Shot-noise normalized external amplitude noise at V s 0 as a function of the pumping level R p for different internal loss a int s 0
Ž1., 2 Ž2., 5 Ž3., 10 Ž4. and 20 cmy1 Ž4..

In reality, additional parameters and physical phenomena play a key role in the amplitude squeezing performances of a
laser and we will show now their influence on the correlation between the emitted field amplitude fluctuations.

4. More complex description of a Fabry Perot laser: Influence of loss, non-linear gain and spatial HOLE burning

4.1. Influence of absorption or loss

In reality, a laser always suffers from non-radiative loss inside the cavity which can be considered by introducing an
internal distributed absorption w5x. It is expected that absorption has also a strong influence on the correlation especially at
low frequency because any absorption can be understood as one type of random killing of photons and consequently
bringing the amplitude of noise closer to the shot-noise level.
Fig. 6 presents for various internal loss the shot-noise normalized external amplitude noise at low frequency as a function
of the pump level R p for a high reflection coated symmetric Fabry Perot laser Ž R 1 s R 2 s 0.8.. The presence of loss
introduces a floor value for the emitted amplitude noise at high emitted power in contrast to the regime of low emitted power
where the shot-noise normalized external amplitude noise is reduced This modification of the emitted noise has an influence
on the correlation spectrum. Fig. 7 depicts the normalized correlation at low frequency CorŽ0. as a function of the pumping

Fig. 7. Normalized correlation spectrum at low frequency and high emitted power as a function of the pumping level R p for different
internal loss a int s 2 Ž1., 5 Ž2., 10 Ž3. and 15 cmy1 Ž4..
334 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338

Fig. 8. Shot noise normalized external amplitude noise at V s 0 as a function of the pump level R p for different gain suppression
coefficients e s 0 Ž1., 10y1 9 Ž2., 10y1 8 Ž3., 5=10y1 8 Ž4. and 10y1 7 cm3 Ž5..

level R p for a high reflection coated Fabry Perot laser Ž R1 s R 2 s 0.8. for several internal loss values. When pumped highly
above threshold, the amount of negative correlation is reduced with increasing internal loss. At the same time, for low
emitted power, the correlation is also reduced and tends to zero.
In conclusion, high internal loss strongly reduces the correlation between the amplitude fluctuations of the two fields
emitted at each facet of the laser. Low internal loss is consequently needed to generate totally anticorrelated beams or as well
totally correlated beams.

4.2. Influence of gain saturation

Most real laser structures suffer from saturation of the gain and consequently from saturation of the emitted power. This
effect can be described by a gain saturation formula in which the optical gain is a decreasing function of the internal photon
density. In our simulations, we have taken the following phenomenological expression:

g NL s g LŽ 1 y e P . , Ž 23.

where e is the gain suppression coefficient and P the time average photon density inside the cavity.
As already demonstrated w11,19,20x, this gain suppression mechanism strongly decreases the achievable amount of
squeezing for a given structure. This phenomenon limits the amount of negative correlation between the amplitude of the
field emitted by the two facets of a highly reflection coated Fabry Perot laser in the same way as the internal loss.
Fig. 8 shows for different values of the gain suppression factor the shot-noise normalized external amplitude noise at low
frequency as a function of the pump level R p for a high reflection coated Fabry Perot laser Ž R 1 s R 2 s 0.8.. The saturation
effect of the gain strongly reduces the fluctuations of the field inside the cavity and leads to a very small noise at low
frequency for high pump level. Under these conditions, the external amplitude noise for a highly pumped laser is due to the
vacuum fluctuations and therefore is at the limit of the shot-noise level. This effect induces the existence of an optimum
pump level with the highest possible squeezing as can be seen in Fig. 8. This pump level corresponds to the bending point of
the laser P–I characteristics. Consequently, gain saturation strongly changes the noise as well as the squeezing performances
of a laser and should also modify the correlation between the amplitude fluctuations of the two laser beams emitted from
both facets.
To show this effect, Fig. 9 presents for several values of the gain suppression coefficient the normalized correlation at
low frequency as a function of the pump level R p for a high reflection coated Fabry Perot laser Ž R 1 s R 2 s 0.8. which is
quietly pumped. As for the emitted external amplitude noise, gain suppression first limits the obtainable amount of negative
correlation and results in an optimum pumping current w11x. However, this effect is not too important for bulk lasers Žsmall
e . but should be taken into account for quantum well structures Žhigh e . according to the values of the gain suppression
coefficient used for these simulations.
 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338 335

Fig. 9. Normalized correlation spectrum at low frequency and high emitted powers as a function of pumping level R p for different gain
suppression coefficients e s10y1 9 Ž1., 5=10 y1 9 Ž2., 10y1 8 Ž3. and 5=10y1 8 cm3 Ž4..

4.3. Influence of spatial hole burning

Spatial hole burning or other inhomogeneous distribution of the laser field inside the cavity influences strongly the static
and dynamic properties and performances of a semiconductor laser w21–23x. Although spatial hole burning is normally
considered as being small for a Fabry Perot structure, it is not really the case.
For a symmetric Fabry Perot laser, as the reflection coefficient of the laser facets decreases a hole appears in the field
distribution at the middle of the cavity. Such an inhomogeneous distribution induces an increase of the internal and external
amplitude noise for a Fabry Perot laser w24x as well as for more complex laser structures w12x. The increase of the noise is
directly linked to the increase of the longitudinal Petermann factor K, the modification of the coupling of the vacuum
fluctuations to the laser field as well as the reduction of the correlation between the transmitted internal field and the
reflected vacuum fluctuations at the laser facets.
The strong effect on the laser noise can be seen in Fig. 10 where the shot-noise normalized external amplitude noise of a
symmetric Fabry Perot laser with 30% reflection coefficients with and without spatial hole burning is presented. A strong
modification of the noise appears, which expresses itself also in a strong modification of the correlation.
Our first simulations show that spatial hole burning induces even in these structures a noticeable increase of the
normalized correlation at high emitted power. For normal pumping, the laser noise will stay above the shot-noise level and
therefore the normalized correlation at low frequency CorŽ0. is strictly positive. When quietly pumped, the laser is not

Fig. 10. External amplitude noise normalized by the shot-noise at V s 0 as a function of the pump level R p for a symmetric Fabry Perot
laser with power reflectivity of 0.3 with and without spatial hole burning.
336 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338

Fig. 11. Description of the experimental set-up with measurement method for the normalized correlation.

capable of exhibiting as much negative correlation as before and so its performance for the generation of anti-correlated
beams and squeezed states is limited. This phenomenon should play an important role in more complex lasers such as DFB
and DBR lasers.

5. Comparison with experiments

Few experimental results w6–9,24x have been obtained on this subject up to now. For example in Ref. w7x, the noise
emitted by the two facets of a symmetric Fabry Perot laser with low reflection coefficients is measured. The results obtained
show a strong dependence of the correlation on the laser parameters such as the facet reflection coefficients and the pumping
level applied to the laser. A strong difference also appears between normal pumping and quiet pumping conditions, with a
change of the correlation sign. All these results, partly understood at the time of their publication, can be directly explained
by this work. The only difference is that a negative correlation was obtained even if the noise emitted by one of the laser
facets was measured above the shot-noise w7x. This discrepancy can originate from the multimode behaviour of the laser
used. Another interesting study is given in Ref. w24x where the noise of a symmetric Fabry Perot laser is analysed. A strong
influence of the facet reflection coefficient of each laser facet is found as demonstrated and explained in Ref. w25x. The
coupling of the laser through the facet reflectivies is a very important phenomena and its influence has to be taken into
account.
We have also performed first experiments with symmetric Fabry Perot lasers with a reflection coefficient of each facet of
30% using the experimental scheme presented in Fig. 11. The two beams emitted by the laser are detected by identical
detectors. The fluctuating part of each detected photo-current is separated through a bias tee and then amplified before being
measured using an electrical spectrum analyser Ž S1 and S2 .. The correlation between the two photocurrents are measured by
subtracting Ž S1y2 . and adding Ž S1q2 . the fluctuating parts using a magic tee. The correlation spectrum is finally obtained via

S1q2 Ž V . y S1y2 Ž V .
Cor Ž V . s . Ž 24.
( (
4 S1Ž V . S2 Ž V .

Fig. 12 shows the measured normalized correlation at low frequency as a function of the pump level R p for the case of a
laser being quietly Župper part. and normally pumped Žlower part.. As expected from the theory, a strong difference of the
magnitude and the sign of the normalized correlation is observed between these two cases. Please note that we do observe a
negative correlation when the laser is quietly pumped though we do not observe squeezing of the light emitted from the laser
facet. This may be due to the presence of additive noise sources such as technical noise that prevents the measurement of a
squeezed state as well as the multimode behaviour of the laser high above threshold. In addition, a reduced value of the
correlation is obtained as compared to the theory.
 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338 337

Fig. 12. Measured normalized correlation at low frequency Ž250 MHz. for a symmetric Fabry Perot semiconductor laser as a function of the
pump level R p or laser quietly pumped Župper part. and normally pumped Žlower part..

These first experimental results confirm the theory even if more precise studies and further investigation have to be
performed.

6. Conclusions

A model has been presented which allows to study the correlation between the intensity fluctuations of the light emitted
by the two facets of the laser for simple and complex laser structures. A strong dependence on the laser structure and also on
phenomena such as gain suppression and spatial hole burning has been demonstrated. Strongly anticorrelated beams can be
generated with a high reflection coated Fabry Perot laser, which is of interest in practical applications. First experimental
results have shown a good agreement with the theory and interesting features.
A comprehensive study of correlation spectra for more complex laser structures such as DFB and DBR has to be made as
well as further experimental investigations on the correlation behaviour with Fabry Perot and more complex laser structures
to check the coincidence between theory and experiments.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Deutsche Forschung Gemeinschaft for its financial support, professor P.
Gallion for stimulating discussions and Sven Ederer for his help with the graphics.
338 J.-L. Vey et al.r Optics Communications 146 (1998) 325–338

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