Optical square-wave generation in a semiconductor laser with optoelectronic feedback.

Abstract

We report self-sustained optical square-wave (SW) generation in a semiconductor laser diode subjected to delayed optoelectronic feedback on its injection current (J). This optoelectronic oscillator relies on nonlinear effects present in both the laser diode and in the optoelectronic feedback loop through amplifier saturation. The repetition rate of the SW is an integer multiple of the inverse of the loop delay, while the duty cycle can be tuned with J.