Abstract

Actively mode-locked semiconductor lasers will be important sources in ultra-high-bit-rate optical communications systems.^1-2 However, in these systems, pulse stability is critical. Derickson et al. have assessed amplitude and timing jitter by measuring the laser’s intensity spectrum;³ they have shown that amplitude and timing jitter increase when the rf drive frequency to the laser is tuned for a minimum pulsewidth. In this paper, we report cyclic wavelength jitter that can cause large spectral broadening. Numerical simulations show this jitter occurs whenever there are amplitude and timing instabilities, which can occur when the laser is tuned to a minimum average pulsewidth.

© 1991 Optical Society of America