Fast tunable laser based on Fabry-Perot lasers with optical injection

Abstract

We have proposed and experimentally demonstrated a new tunable laser structure, which is based on Fabry-Perot (FP) lasers with external lightwave injection. The wavelength tuning can be obtained by adjusting the bias currents of FP lasers. The wavelength tuning time of <2 ns, 3.3-nm tuning range, and the side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of >19 dB have been achieved experimentally. In addition, the SMSR performance has also been investigated. This tunable laser has the advantage of simple architecture, potentially low cost, data direct modulation, and fast wavelength tuning, and is expected to benefit the applications of fast wavelength tuning. (C) 2004 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.