LASER DIODE

OBJECTIVE:
To study the P-I and V-I characteristics of an LD (1550 nm).

APPARATUS:
LD driver LD modulator LD unit (1550 nm) Fiber Optic Power Meter with ST adaptor SC-ST patch cord

THEORY:
A laser diode is a laser where the active medium is usually a semiconductor. The most common and practical type of laser diode is formed from a p-n junction and the active part of the depletion layer (i.e., where most of the current flows) is made quite narrow, to concentrate the carriers. The ends of this narrow active region are also highly polished, or coated with multiple very thin reflective layers to act as mirrors, so it forms a resonant optical cavity. The forward current level is also increased; to the point where the current density reaches a critical level where carrier population inversion occurs, i.e. a very large excess population of electrons and holes which can potentially combine to release photons by the influence of passing photons.

LDs operate at high current densities, with all their emitted photons being inphases, i.e. the device is optically coherent, and gives a narrow spectral linewidth.

MODULE

CIRCUIT

DIAGRAM:

PROCEDURE:
1) Connect the SC-ST patch cord between the LD unit and the Power meter. Turn the multi-turn pot to its minimum position and switch ON the LD driver. 2) Measure the voltage V1 across the resistor R1(68 ) and calculate the current through the LD, ILD, given by: ILD = V1 / 68 3) Measure the voltage VLD across the LD and note down.

4) Without changing any voltage, measure the optical power output P of the LD. Calculate the power in mW and note down which is given as: Po = 10(P/10) 5) Increase the current through LD by turning the multi-turn pot clockwise slightly towards the maximum till a convenient reading for V1 is observed and REPEAT STEPS 2-4. 6) Repeat step 5 and note down several readings till the multi-turn pot reaches its maximum position and plot graphs for VLD Vs ILD and ILD Vs Po. 7) Note down the current from the P-I graph at which there is a sharp rise in the optical output power. This is the threshold current of the LD.

OBSERVATIONS:
R1 = 68

S.N. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

V1 (V) 0.385 0.4 0.45 0.48 0.5 0.53 0.55 0.58 0.6 0.63 0.65 0.68 0.7

ILD (mA) 5.661765 5.882353 6.617647 7.058824 7.352941 7.794118 8.088235 8.529412 8.823529 9.264706 9.558824 10 10.29412

VLD (V) 0.914 0.919 0.93 0.93 0.94 0.95 0.96 0.96 0.97 0.98 0.98 1 1.01

P (dBm) -40 -38.5 -36.9 -35.9 -36 -34.7 -34.4 -33.2 -32.9 -31.5 -31.1 -29.8 -27.6

Po (W) 0.1 0.141253754 0.204173794 0.257039578 0.251188643 0.338844156 0.363078055 0.478630092 0.512861384 0.707945784 0.776247117 1.047128548 1.737800829

14 15 16 17 18

0.73 0.75 0.78 0.8 0.85

10.73529 11.02941 11.47059 11.76471 12.5

1.02 1.02 1.03 1.03 1.03

-20.6 -18.7 -15.9 -14.5 -12.2

8.7096359 13.48962883 25.70395783 35.48133892 60.25595861

From Graph: The threshold current of the LD = 10.25 mA

GRAPHS:

Power Vs Current
40 35
Optical Power Po (W)

30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 5 10
Current ILD (mA)

Power Vs

15

Current Vs Voltage
14 12
Current ILD (mA)

10 8 6 4 2 0 0.9 0.95
Voltage VLD (V)

Current Vs Voltage

1.05