Thermal photon statistics in laser light above threshold

Abstract

A basic laser property of reduction in photon-number fluctuations at laser threshold does not occur in small semiconductor lasers was demonstrated. The threshold noise theory is invalid in lasers with a spontaneous emission factor greater than 10-8. The photon number statistics remain thermal far above threshold for spontaneous-emission factor larger than 10-4. The reduction is not a fundamental laser property instead a size matter and the corresponding relative importance of quantum fluctuations above threshold.