Influence of mode competition on the fast wavelength switching of three-section DBR lasers

For a three-section distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser, the dependence of the intermodal wavelength-switching time on the precise wavelengths within two longitudinal modes is examined experimentally and theoretically. When switching from a fixed wavelength in the central region of the tuning curve for one mode to a second wavelength on the tuning curve for another mode, a significant variation of the switching delay occurs as the second wavelength spans the mode tuning curve. Mode competition is identified as being responsible for this variation.<>