Digitally tunable laser based on the integration of a waveguide grating multiplexer and an optical amplifier

Author

Zirngibl, M. ; Joyner, C.H. ; Stulz, L.W. ; Koren, U. ; Chien, M.-D. ; Young, M.G. ; Miller, B.I.

Author_Institution

AT&T Bell Labs., Holmdel, NJ, USA

Volume

6

Issue

4

fYear

1994

fDate

4/1/1994 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

516

Lastpage

518

Abstract

A novel monolithic semiconductor laser is demonstrated. The optical cavity comprises a 1/spl times/N waveguide grating multiplexer connected to N optical amplifiers. By driving a specific output port, laser oscillation is obtained at the wavelength determined by the wavelength path through the multiplexer. Such a laser is very useful for WDM systems because it is capable of producing a comb of precisely spaced frequencies.<>

Keywords

diffraction gratings; integrated optics; laser cavity resonators; laser tuning; multiplexing equipment; optical waveguides; semiconductor lasers; wavelength division multiplexing; 1/spl times/N waveguide grating multiplexer; WDM systems; digitally tunable laser; integration; laser oscillation; monolithic semiconductor laser; optical amplifier; optical cavity; precisely spaced frequency comb; specific output port; waveguide grating multiplexer; wavelength path; Gratings; Multiplexing; Optical amplifiers; Optical waveguides; Semiconductor lasers; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Semiconductor waveguides; Stimulated emission; Tunable circuits and devices; Waveguide lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.281813

Filename

281813