Patent ID: 6882666
Filing Date: 2005-04-19
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor laser source, comprising: a laser diode generating optical energy at a wavelength sufficient to pump a rare-earth doped optical amplifier, said laser diode having front and rear facets that includes: a substrate; a lower cladding layer disposed on the substrate, said lower cladding layer being doped with a first conductivity type; an active layer disposed on the lower cladding layer; an upper cladding layer disposed on the active layer, said upper cladding layer being doped with a second conductivity type; at least one electrode disposed on a first outer layer of the diode; a pair of electrodes disposed on a second outer layer of the diode, the second outer layer being located on a side of the diode opposing the first outer layer, said pair of electrodes being configured to allow application of a first current to a first section of the laser diode for generating optical gain therein and a second current to a second section of the laser diode to produce instability in a single mode laser operation resulting in coherence collapse; and a reflector located external to the laser diode and in optical communication with the front facet of the laser diode for providing optical feedback to the active region.