Abstract
A rate-equation analysis that ignores the variation of the optical field along the optic axis is often used to model the spectral output of injection lasers.1 This form of analysis involves formulating and solving the coupled differential equations that describe the rate of change with time of the optical field and population inversion for a given pumping rate. The utility of this approach lies in the (relative) ease with which solutions are obtained. In steady state, analytic expressions for the mode intensities are found.1 However, this rate-equation approach does possess shortcomings, particularly when applied to diode lasers.2 The approach is valid only for vanishingly small gain and scattering/ absorption loss, ignores amplification of the spontaneous light that traverses the amplifying medium, and does not provide a formalism to include correctly and automatically the effects of the reflectors that form the cavity. Also, the analysis does not generalize easily to model feedback, compound cavities, or optical amplifiers.
© 1984 Optical Society of America
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