Detection of a weak external signal via the switch-on-time statistics of a semiconductor laser

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Abstract
We calculate the passage-time statistics of a gain-switched single-mode semiconductor laser with a weak, detuned injected signal. Results are given in terms of a relevant scaling parameter. We find that a weak injected signal can be detected by measurements of the mean passage time or its variance whenever its frequency is close to the one of the semiconductor lasers in the on state. In this case, the external signal is resonant with the laser field at the time when amplification becomes possible, and hence it triggers the switch-on more efficiently. The detection bandwidth is of the order of 50 GHz for the case considered.