Four channel integrated DFB laser array with tunable wavelength spacing and 40-Gb/s signal transmission capacity

A four-channel distributed-feedback (DFB) laser array integrated with four heating filaments has been fabricated for high-density wavelength-division-multiplexing systems. The DFB lasers have a threshold current of 4 mA at room temperature. By changing the power in the heater, the wavelength of each laser can be continuously tuned by as much as 5 nm. Therefore, a tunable wavelength spacing anywhere from 1 nm to 2 nm can be achieved. Each laser can operate at 10 Gb/s. However, the bias current has to be increased to avoid the degradation of the eye pattern as the wavelength is thermally tuned over 2 nm. An electric crosstalk of 0.6 dB is measured when two adjacent lasers are modulated at 10 Gb/s simultaneously