Spectral distribution of amplified spontaneous emission

A theory is described which accounts for the dependence of the spectral distribution of amplified spontaneous emission on the length and inversion density of the active medium. For an inhomogeneously broadened line an unanticipated dip occurs in the plot of linewidth against length at lengths slightly greater than the critical length, but is explained by a simple physical analysis. Agreement occurs between the theory and that of Yariv and Leite (1963) in the regime over which their theory is expected to work. Observations by other workers on the spectral distribution of amplified spontaneous emission systems are discussed.