title: Experimental investigation of high-frequency noise and optical feedback effects using a 9.7 microm continuous-wave distributed-feedback quantum-cascade laser.
abstract: An experimental investigation of high-frequency noise, i.e., up to 3 GHz, exhibited by a 9.7 microm quantum cascade laser, is described. Noise characteristics and measurements of a liquid-nitrogen-cooled continuous-wave distributed-feedback laser are presented. Well defined sets of narrow and intense resonance peaks have been observed in the 10-300 MHz range. Measurements of relative intensity noise have been performed. It is also shown that quantum-cascade lasers are sensitive to optical feedback. The excess noise generated by the feedback has been investigated under well defined conditions. A description of the experimental phenomenon is presented along with methods of minimizing optical feedback.
authors.affiliation: CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Space Science and Technology Department, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK. d.weidmann@rl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weidmann
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ellison