Patent ID: 6026105
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A method of determining frequency chirp of a semiconductor laser at a predetermined bias current, the method comprising the steps of:a) providing a semiconductor laser biased at said predetermined bias current I.sub.dc, said predetermined bias current sufficient to provide lasing;b) applying an RF current I.sub.rf to said semiconductor laser at a predetermined frequency to generate an RF modulated optical output signal;c) propagating the RF modulated optical output signal through an optical fiber;d) coupling a photoreceiver to said optical fiber and converting the received RF modulated optical output signal into an electrical representation thereof;e) measuring the converted electrical signal to determine the noise signal power;f) adjusting the power of the applied RF current until a maximum noise signal is measured in step e);g) dividing the predetermined frequency of step b) by the adjusted modulating current of step f) to define the laser chirp.