Emission dynamics of a multifunctional three-section heterolaser

An investigation was made of the following dynamic operational regimes of three-section laser diodes based on (GaAl)As heterostructures with different connection configurations and different control signals: direct modulation of the current in the superluminescence regime and lasing under uniform injection conditions; self-modulation of the intensity (including hysteretic self-modulation bistability and chaotic spiking) and synchronisation of such modulation by a harmonic current signal; generation of picosecond optical pulses under the conditions of Q switching and mode locking in an external cavity; tuning of the emission wavelength. The investigated lasers were constructed to ensure good contact with single-mode fibre waveguides.