Spatial hole burning effects in distributed feedback lasers

Author

Rabinovich, W.S. ; Feldman, B.J.

Author_Institution

US Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA

Volume

25

Issue

1

fYear

1989

Firstpage

20

Lastpage

30

Abstract

The effects of spatial hole burning in a steady-state distributed feedback (DFB) laser are examined by numerically solving the coupled mode equations that describe the system. An approximate solution for the gain above threshold is derived and compared to the exact solution. It is shown that the self-induced grating that arises due to spatial hole burning significantly reduces the mode discrimination of index-coupled DFB lasers. This makes it difficult for these lasers to maintain single-longitudinal-mode behavior above threshold. However, it is found in addition that bulk-modulated (gain-coupled) DFB lasers do not lose their mode selectivity above threshold, indicating that these lasers may be better choices for narrow-linewidth operation.<>

Keywords

diffraction gratings; distributed feedback lasers; laser modes; optical hole burning; bulk-modulated DFB lasers; coupled mode equations; mode discrimination; narrow-linewidth operation; self-induced grating; spatial hole burning; steady-state distributed feedback laser; Distributed feedback devices; Filtering; Gratings; Laser feedback; Laser modes; Laser theory; Nonlinear equations; Optical coupling; Steady-state;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.16236

Filename

16236