Electrical interactions of a superlinear laser diode with its external circuit

Self-induced fluctuations in diode voltage and current are shown to accompany the random optical fluctuations exhibited by AlGaAs junction lasers with superlinear emission characteristics. As a result, resonant interactions between the laser diode and a passive external electrical circuit produce coherent oscillations in the optically emitted power. Analysis of the conditions under which these resonantly induced oscillations occur shows that the intrinsic laser instability is current, not voltage, sensitive. No evidence is found, however, for a resonant-like behavior intrinsic to the laser itself.