Impact of gain dispersion on the spatio-temporal dynamics of multisection lasers

Abstract

We present a refined model for multi-section lasers, introducing an additional equation for material polarization in the well-known traveling wave model. We investigate the polarization-induced changes in the spectral properties of the optical waveguide. Finally, we show the relevance of this model for a more realistic simulation of the complicated dynamical behavior of multi-section distributed feedback (DFB) lasers, such as fast self-pulsations, multi-stability, and hysteresis effects due to mode competition.