Experimental characterization of the frequency modulation behavior of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

The frequency response of the current-to-wavelength tuning rate (FM response) was measured for two different vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) up to frequencies of 1 MHz: GaAs-based VCSEL (763 nm) and InP-based VCSEL (1853 nm). Both of them show the same qualitative FM response behavior, which can be described by a square root law and therefore cannot be modeled by a first order low pass. The square root law behavior is a significant advantage for laser spectroscopy applications with VCSELs because the decrease of the current-to-wavelength tuning coefficient is less severe as in the case of the first order low pass.