Dynamically controlled channel-to-channel switching in a full-band DS-DBR laser

Author

Ponnampalam, Lalitha ; Whitbread, Neil D. ; Barlow, Richard ; Busico, Giacinto ; Ward, Andrew J. ; Duck, Jeremy P. ; Robbins, David J.

Author_Institution

Bookham Technol., Towcester, UK

Volume

42

Issue

3

fYear

2006

fDate

3/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

223

Lastpage

230

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed series of measurements and modeled results that demonstrate rugged switching in a full-band tunable laser between stable, wavelength locked ITU frequencies. During switching a monolithically integrated optical amplifier has been used as a shutter to achieve greater than 40 dB attenuation whilst the wavelength is being tuned. The interactions between the thermal distribution down the laser and the induced frequency deviations are investigated, and the residual frequency deviation of <5 GHz is shown to be predominately thermal.

Keywords

distributed Bragg reflector lasers; integrated optics; integrated optoelectronics; laser frequency stability; laser tuning; monolithic integrated circuits; semiconductor optical amplifiers; attenuation; channel-to-channel switching; dynamic control; frequency deviations; full-band DS-DBR laser; monolithically integrated optical amplifier; rugged switching; semiconductor optical amplifiers; stable ITU frequency; thermal distribution; tunable laser; wavelength locked ITU frequency; Frequency measurement; Integrated optics; Laser mode locking; Laser stability; Laser tuning; Optical attenuators; Optical control; Stimulated emission; Tunable circuits and devices; Wavelength measurement; Laser tuning; semiconductor lasers; semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JQE.2005.863700

Filename

1589154