Bistability and Dwell-Time Instabilities in Diode Lasers

Abstract

Bistability in a diode laser amplifier performance, and bistability, instability and mode hopping in a diode laser oscillator performance are investigated. In the amplifier case the steady state solutions are characterized by an S curve while in the oscillator case, a different behavior is predicted. The Fokker-Planck equations are derived and solved in both cases. First passage times are evaluated.