Quasicontinuous wavelength tuning in super-structure-grating (SSG) DBR lasers

Abstract

The paper describes the design of a super-structure-grating distributed Bragg reflector (SSG-DBR) laser for broad quasicontinuous wavelength tuning with stable single-mode operation. The phase distributions and the effective coupling coefficients of SSG's are optimized to obtain both broad tuning range and high mode selectivity. A computer-aided simulation of wavelength tuning, where the effects of the waveguide loss increase and inhomogeneous gain spectrum are included, provides an optimum cavity structure and indicates the possibility of more than 70 mm quasicontinuous tuning in a 1.55 /spl mu/m InGaAsP-InP SSG-DBR laser. Experimental results for 34 nm quasicontinuous tuning with a properly designed device are also presented.