Sampled grating tunable twin‐guide laser diodes with wide tuning range (≥40 nm) and large output power (≥10 mW)

Abstract

The sampled grating tunable twin-guide (SG-TTG) laser diode is a DFB-like tunable laser that employs Vernier-effect tuning to achieve wide wavelength tuning. In contrast to most other monolithic widely tunable lasers (which are usually DBR-type lasers), a phase tuning section is not needed and, hence, the SG-TTG laser requires at least one tuning current less than comparable devices. The devices provide full wavelength coverage over a 40 nm-broad tuning range that is centered at 1.54 µm. Its tuning behavior is quasi-continuous with up to 8.2 nm broad continuous tuning regions. High side-mode suppression (SMSR ≥ 35 dB) as well as large output power (P ≥ 10 mW) are obtained over the whole wavelength range from 1520.5 to 1561.5 nm.