Range-dependent Optical Feedback Effects on the Multimode Spectrum of Laser Diodes

Weak optical feedback from diffusely-reflecting objects can dramatically affect the optical spectrum of homogeneously-broadened laser diodes operated near the lasing threshold. Switching between two or more oscillation modes can be controlled by as little as 1 nW of optical feedback power. The modulation effects on the optical spectrum and total power output depend on the phase of the returned light, and the strength of the effect has a range dependency that is useful for metrology applications. In the present work, experimental and theoretical analyses of these phenomena are presented, and a simple metrology tool for position sensing and remote surface profiling is proposed.