Abstract: An apparatus and method for building an optically pumped laser integrated with an electrically driven pump laser is disclosed. The apparatus disclosed comprises an optically pumped laser containing an active layer and an optical pump laser containing an optical mode at least partially overlapping and propagating substantially parallel to optically pumped laser's active layer. The method discloses forming an optically pumped gain element containing an active layer, forming a pump laser containing an optical mode at least partially overlapping and propagating substantially parallel to optically pumped gain element's active layer.

Abstract: A laser transmitter with a feedback control loop for minimizing noise. The novel laser transmitter includes a laser, an external reflector adapted to form an extended cavity to the laser, and a feedback control loop adapted to detect noise in the laser and in accordance therewith, adjust the optical phase of the extended cavity such that the noise is at a desired level. The optical phase of the extended cavity is adjusted by adjusting an operating parameter of the laser, such as its bias current. In an illustrative embodiment, the feedback control loop is adapted to compute the rate of change of the noise with respect to bias current and in accordance therewith, adjust the bias current of the laser such that relative intensity noise and interferometric intermodulation distortion are simultaneously minimized.