Abstract

Recently there has been considerable interest in the properties of single-mode diode lasers and their use in communications and interferometer systems.^1,2 In this paper we investigate both the spectral and noise characteristics of six different diode lasers (both index-guided and gain-guided) in the absence and presence of optical feedback into the laser cavity. Small amounts of feedback into the laser cavity produce line broadening and multimode operation.³ The effect of the observed spectral output of these lasers on the performance of interferometric systems Is discussed.

© 1981 Optical Society of America