Pure Strain Effects in Strained-Layer Multiple-Quantum-Well Lasers

Pure effects of strain in strained-layer multiplequantum-well (MQW) lasers are measured separately from quantum effects using Fabry-Perot (FP) lasers with the same well thicknesses but different strains. The differential gain and gain saturation coefficients and the K factors of the lasers are determined by measuring relative-intensity-noise (RIN) spectra with various bias conditions. The differential gain coefficient increases when the compressive strain increases. The gain saturation coefficient also increases with increasing compressive strain. The K factor increases slightly when the compressive strain increases because of the slight increase in the ratio of the gain saturation coefficient to the differential gain coefficient.