Reduced linewidth re-broadening by suppressing longitudinal spatial hole burning in high-power 1.55-μm continuous-wave distributed-feedback (CW-DFB) laser diodes

Abstract

For the first time, the impact of longitudinal photon density distribution and longitudinal carrier density distribution on the spectral linewidth re-broadening effect in single-electrode 1.55-μm distributed feedback (DFB) laser diodes (LDs) is investigated experimentally in details. By optimizing the front-to-rear facet power ratio, the nonuniformity of the photon density distribution along the laser cavity is reduced, hence reducing the degree of longitudinal spatial hole burning (SHB). Using this optimized value of front-to-rear facet power ratio, the degree of longitudinal SHB can be further reduced through reduction of the nonuniformity of the longitudinal carrier density distribution by increasing the cavity length. As a result, the local stimulated emission is reduced, hence reducing linewidth re-broadening caused by longitudinal SHB. The outcomes of this analysis is being used fruitfully to design high-power 1.55-μm DFB LDs exhibiting very narrow spectral linewidth of approximately 1.3 MHz at an output power of 175 mW under continuous-wave operation.