Direct correlation between a highly damped modulation response and ultra low relative intensity noise in an InAs/GaAs quantum dot laser

We describe modulation responses and relative intensity noise (RIN) spectra of an InAs/GaAs quantum dot laser operating near 1300 nm. A very large nonlinear gain compression coefficient yields a highly damped modulation response with a maximum 3 dB bandwidth of similar to 6.5 GHz and flat RIN spectra which reach as low a level as -158 divided by-160 dB/Hz at frequencies up to 10 GHz. (C) 2007 Optical Society of America.