Injection locking semiconductor lasers with phase conjugate feedback

Abstract

Phase conjugate injection locking is shown to couple coherently two semiconductor lasers through a double phase conjugate mirror geometry. The mutual coherence and stability of the lock band are characterized from the visibility and relative intensity noise measurements for various levels of phase conjugate coupling and frequency detunings. Side mode phase conjugate injection locking is demonstrated by high mutual coherence with visibility ∼0.93 and detunings up to nine longitudinal mode spacings at injection levels of −22 dB. Central mode phase conjugate injection locking with high mutual coherence is also possible for feedback levels of −36 dB and exhibiting an asymmetric stable locking region of 350 MHz bandwidth within the locking band. The phase locking is unstable though, the reasons for which are discussed. Increased phase conjugate feedback extends the lock band to greater detunings and asymmetry as in direct injection locking with only a small region showing high mutual coherence. Intensity noise measurements are also discussed.