Title :
Tuning performance and spectral selectivity of widely tunable vertical Mach-Zehnder lasers
Author :
Möller, Stefan ; Amann, Markus-Christian
Author_Institution :
Walter Schottky Inst., Tech. Univ. Munchen, Germany
Abstract :
The filtering mechanism, spectral selectivity, and tuning performance of the vertical Mach-Zehnder (VMZ) laser diode are studied. Wavelength selection in this device is due to the interference of two modes with different and electronically controllable optical path lengths in analogy to a common Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Different design approaches for the VMZ laser are investigated. The calculations presented show that tuning ranges between 50 nm and 100 nm with side-mode suppression ratios (SSR´s) of more than 20 dB are feasible. Designs with tuning ranges of about 35 nm show SSR values of over 30 dB at the 1.55 /spl mu/m wavelength enabling the realization of widely tunable laser diodes with full wavelength access within the tuning range, suitable for applications in optical communication systems.
Keywords :
Mach-Zehnder interferometers; laser beams; laser cavity resonators; laser modes; laser tuning; optical design techniques; optical filters; optical transmitters; semiconductor lasers; waveguide lasers; wavelength division multiplexing; 1.55 mum; Mach-Zehnder interferometer; design approaches; electronically controllable optical path lengths; filtering mechanism; interference; optical communication systems; side-mode suppression ratios; spectral selectivity; tunable laser diodes; tuning performance; tuning range; tuning ranges; vertical Mach-Zehnder laser diode; wavelength selection; widely tunable vertical Mach-Zehnder lasers; Diode lasers; Filtering; Interference; Laser tuning; Optical control; Optical design; Optical devices; Optical filters; Optical tuning; Tunable circuits and devices;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
