Theory of digital modulation of semiconductor laser diode remotely

The authors present a new theory that can be applied to modulate the semiconductor laser diode (LD) remotely. The proposed scheme utilizes the effect of incoherent external optical feedback (EOF) on the LD output optical signal. In particular, owing to the high increase in threshold carrier density, the LD will be impelled to turn off when the value of external reflectivity is equal to the laser back reflectivity. Thus, by exposing the LD, which is injected with a dc-current higher than threshold, to incoherent EOF digital signal (which conveys the transmitted information), the output optical signal of LD can be modulated accordingly.