1A3 - Excess photon noise in multimode lasers

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A theory is developed for the excess photon noise in the detected photocurrent of the multimode laser. Two simple cases are treated: in one, the modes are uncoupled and in the other, they are phase locked. Both cases can be realized when a gas laser is operated under saturation conditions well above threshold, where complicated mode interactions make a detailed analysis difficult. As predicted, the excess photon noise is zero dB, within experimental error, for the phase-locked case; and it is approximately 20 ± 3dB for a stable vibration isolated laser operating in a multimode, nonlocked condition. Precautions have been taken to eliminate extraneous noise due to power supply ripple and the like, and the highly nonideal contribution of the photomultiplier has been subtracted out.

This publication has 12 references indexed in Scilit: