A luminosity control device comprises a first semiconductor laser operable in a spontaneous mode to emit noncoherent light and in a laser mode different from its inherent laser mode to emit coherent light. The first semiconductor laser is electrically biased into its spontaneous laser mode. A second semiconductor laser is operated in a laser mode to emit coherent light which is applied to the first semiconductor laser to optically bias the first semiconductor laser into the laser mode of the second semiconductor laser. The second semiconductor laser is electrically biased into operating in its laser mode and the optical coupling between the two semiconductor lasers is such that the coherent light output from the first semiconductor laser varies exponentially with respect to the electrical energy input into the second semiconductor laser.