Measurement of the swept-frequency carrier-induced FM response of a semiconductor laser using an incoherent interferometric technique

Abstract
The swept frequency deviation response of a distributed feedback (DFB) laser is measured using an incoherent interferometric technique. Unlike previous interferometric techniques, this technique is independent of the phase relationship between the optical fields in the two interferometer paths. The theoretical background is discussed, and measurements yielding an FM deviation response of +or-1 dB from 0.1 to 2.9 GHz with an efficiency of approximately 300 MHz/mA are reported for a 1.55- mu m DFB laser.