Abstract

Investigation of the nonlinear gain in semiconductor lasers is important, since these properties play important roles in certain laser characteristics such as modulation dynamics,¹ laser amplification,² and phase conjugate wave generation.³ We have theoretically discussed that the nonlinear gain effect is enhanced in quantum well (QW) lasers due to the quantum confinement of electrons.⁴ In addition, it was also shown that this gain nonlinearity significantly affects the modulation dynamics. These predictions were recently evidenced in MQW DFB lasers.⁵ Effects of the multidimensional quantum confinement on the nonlinear gain are investigated.

© 1990 Optical Society of America