1.55 mu m gain-coupled quantum-well distributed feedback lasers with high single-mode yield and narrow linewidth

The fabrication and characteristics of gain-coupled 1.55- mu m GaInAlAs quantum-well metal-clad ridge-waveguide distributed-feedback lasers are discussed. The gain-coupling mechanism was provided by a thin ternary loss grating layer with an estimated gain-coupling strength of about 30/cm. For as-cleaved devices, the single-mode yield was as high as 70 and 95% for 600- and 800- mu m-long devices, respectively. Typical threshold currents were 40 and 55 mA, respectively. Both the high single-mode yield and the pronounced asymmetric spectra were calculated theoretically and give a strong indication that a significant amount of gain coupling was realized in the laser structure. For a 600- mu m-long device, a continuous-wave (CW) output power of 10 mW and a minimum linewidth of 1.6 MHz were measured.<>