SELF-SUSTAINED OSCILLATIONS IN (ALGA)AS OXIDE-DEFINED STRIPE LASERS

Experimental results are presented for the incidence statistics and physical characteristics of self-sustained oscillations in the output of (AlGa)As oxide-defined stripe lasers. Oscillations near threshold are found to be associated with aging but not necessarily to output degradation. The morphology, frequency relationship with current and time resolved near-field characteristics are presented. These observations are consistent with a rate equation model incorporating saturable absorption. Implications of this model to laser stability are discussed.