A study of the longitudinal laser modes of a semiconductor laser using optical coherence tomography

摘要

Optical coherence tomography is used to demonstrate the modes of a semiconductor laser used in supermarkets. The experiment is low cost and can be adopted for an undergraduate or graduate physics laboratory. The results enable students to understand the voltage-current and optical power characteristics of a semiconductor laser, and provide insight into the nature of radiation below and above the lasing regions. (C) 2006 American Association of Physics Teachers.