Title :
Tunable sampled-grating DBR lasers with integrated wavelength monitors
Author :
Mason, Beck ; DenBaars, Steven P. ; Coldren, Larry A.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., California Univ., Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Abstract :
We report on the design and development of a wavelength monitor for use with tunable semiconductor lasers. The device is based on two-mode interference in an asymmetrically excited waveguide that is coupled to a Y-branch splitter. The monitoring range of the device is 30 nm. The wavelength monitor is capable of operating over an input power range of 34 dB, and the waveguide detectors do not saturate at photocurrents as high as 1.2 mA. The sensitivity of the monitor is only 1.24 nm for an isolated device, but improves to 0.44 nm when it is integrated on chip with the laser.
Keywords :
diffraction gratings; distributed Bragg reflector lasers; integrated optics; laser variables measurement; monitoring; photoconductivity; photodetectors; semiconductor lasers; sensitivity; waveguide lasers; 1.2 mA; Y-branch splitter; asymmetrically excited waveguide; input power range; integrated wavelength monitors; isolated device; laser chip integration; monitoring range; photocurrents; sensitivity; tunable sampled-grating DBR lasers; tunable semiconductor lasers; two-mode interference; waveguide detectors; wavelength monitor; Detectors; Distributed Bragg reflectors; Interference; Laser excitation; Monitoring; Optical design; Semiconductor lasers; Semiconductor waveguides; Tunable circuits and devices; Waveguide lasers;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
