Cavity length dependence of high-speed 1.55-μm multiple-quantum-well laser diode characteristics

Spontaneous emission spectra below threshold were measured from the side wall of InGaAs QW laser diodes to extract laser design parameters such as cavity length dependence of gain, linewidth enhancement factor, and serial resistance. The threshold current varies according to the change of cavity length, and thus, the lasing peak shifts and the serial resistance changes. It is interesting that the linewidth enhancement factor, however, is not deteriorated by shortening cavity length. The short cavity length would rather improve the linewidth enhancement factor mainly by shifting the lasing peak to smaller wavelength side, where the linewidth enhancement factor is inherently low.