Temperature (20-100 degrees C) and excitation power (10-700 mW)-dependent photoluminescence (PL) measurements have been carried out on the 1.3 mu m GaAs-based InAs quantum dot (QD) laser structures. Rate equation was used to interpret the PL behavior of the QD. The exciton behavior of the carriers in InAs QD has been verified. The excitonic modal gain has been calculated (under exciton picture) and compared with the experimentally obtained modal gain value from the QD laser.