Monolithically integrated multiwavelength sampled grating DBRlasers for dense WDM applications

摘要

For accurate control of the channel spacing in fabricatingnmultiwavelength laser arrays or discrete multicolor lasers, we proposedna novel approach that exploits sampled grating distributed Braggnreflector (DBR) mirrors to vary the laser wave length across the wafer.nThis approach can realize a set of lasers with a wavelength spacing thatnmeets the ITU recommendations for dense wavelength-division multiplexingnsystems and a wavelength range that can cover up to 40 nm or more. Thenwavelength variation across an array is achieved by changing thensampling periods of the DBR mirrors from laser to laser. The accuracy onnthe channel spacing of sampled grating DBR laser arrays was shown to benthe same as that of conventional distributed feedback or DBR lasernarrays, but their wavelengths can be better controlled for the gratingsnare fabricated with single holographic exposure. Arrays of 21 lasersnhave been successfully fabricated and have around 0.8-nm wavelengthnspacing with a simple tuning mechanism