Power efficiency of a semiconductor laser with an external cavity

Optical feedback modifies the power vs. current diagram of a laser diode as well as its spectrum. Though optimization of the spectral characteristics is usually the main goal in the design of an external cavity source, power efficiency is also important, especially with relatively high power devices, where temperature variations due to dissipation can have an impact on the wavelength stability and on the laser lifetime. A useful parameter to describe the total power efficiency of the stabilized laser, relative to that of the solitary laser, is proposed in this paper. The dependence of this parameter on the characteristics of the active device, and of the external cavity, is investigated.