Abstract

Nonlinear gain suppression has a strong influence on the dynamic characteristics of semiconductor lasers. Until recently spectral hole burning was believed to be the major cause of nonlinear gain, but experiments on short-pulse amplification in laser amplifiers pointed to the effect of carrier heating.^1–3 In this paper we analyze static and dynamic gain suppression in semiconductor lasers, taking into account both spectral hole burning and carrier heating.

© 1991 Optical Society of America