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HAIT Journal of Science and Engineering A Volume 5, Issues 1-2, pp. 265-272 © 2008 Holon Institute of Technology | |||
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Is there a linewidth theory for semiconductor lasers?
Boris Spivak1 and Serge Luryi2,*
1Dept. of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA | 2Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University at Stony Brook, NY, 11794-2350, USA *Corresponding author: Serge.Luryi@stonybrook.edu Received 8 September 2007
| Laser generation begins at a critical injection when the gain and loss spectra touch each other at a singular frequency. In the framework of the standard theory, the finite linewidth results from the account of fluctuations associated with the random spontaneous emission processes. This approach is based on the assumption that in the mean-field approximation the singular frequency generation persists for injection levels higher than critical. We show that this assumption in the framework of the Boltzmann kinetic equation for electrons and photons is invalid and therefore the standard description of semiconductor laser linewidth lacks theoretical foundation. Experimental support of the standard theory is also questionable. PACS: 42.55.Ah, 42.55.Rx, 78.40.Fy |