Dynamical switching characteristics of a bistable injection laser

The switching characteristics of a bistable injection laser with very large hysteresis is examined. Switch-on delays are shown to exhibit a "critical" part and a "noncritical" part, both of which can be reduced by increasing the overdrive current. It is possible to obtain fairly fast switching time (<20 ns) with a strong overdrive. Nominal delays of 100–200 ns result under moderate overdrives. These long time scales are due to long carrier lifetimes in the carrier-depleted absorption section, a property intrinsic to these bistable injection lasers.