Numerical simulation tool and experimental set-up for measuring the modal structure of a broad area semiconductor laser diode

A computer simulation model for a single stripe, multimode laser diode of the type broad area laser diode (BALD) was built. In sequence, an experimental set-up preparation followed the numeric tool with the objective of identifying the lateral modes by using the frequency beat technique in the RF spectrum. A spectrum analyzer measured the signals emitted by the BALD using the fast Fourier transform (FFT) method.