INTEGRATED INTERFEROMETRIC INJECTION-LASER - NOVEL FAST AND BROAD-BAND TUNABLE MONOLITHIC LIGHT-SOURCE

A new wide-range electronically wavelength-tunable InGaAsP-InP laser has been developed. This monolithic single-mode light source is based on interferometric principles. We report on successful fabrication and first experimental device characteristics obtained with these novel Y-coupled-cavity integrated interferometric injection (YCC-I3) lasers. For both the 1300 and 1500 nm wavelength regions, very large tuning ranges of 22 and 23 nm, respectively, were achieved by proper current adjustment. The minimum achieved linewidth of the present nonoptimized devices is 35 MHz. Within the complete tuning range, the selection of 12 individual single-mode channels spaced by 2 nm is demonstrated with high-modulation bandwidths up to 5 GHz. A preliminary test of the wavelength switching behavior between two individual single modes additionally indicates promising high-speed switching capabilities in the gigahertz range. Thus, the new monolithic YCC-I3 laser light source shows excellent potential for a wide range of applications in lightwave communications.