Role of spontaneous emission in the formation of the steady-state optical spectrum of a diode laser

Abstract

Based on Maxwell’s equations, we derive a van der Pol-type equation for self-oscillations in the cavity of a diode laser. Its solution is self-oscillations (lasing) even in the absence of spontaneous emission. This solution differs fundamentally from solutions obtained using rate equations containing an additional term in the form of spontaneous emission intensity. Taking into account spontaneous emission in the van der Pol model makes calculation results more realistic and allows one to find parameters characterising diode laser output coherence, including the spectral densities of laser light amplitude and phase fluctuations.