Widely wavelength switchable V-coupled-cavity semiconductor laser with ∼40 dB side-mode suppression ratio

Opt Lett. 2011 Nov 1;36(21):4230-2. doi: 10.1364/OL.36.004230.

Abstract

We report the first experimental demonstration of a single-electrode-controlled digitally wavelength switchable V-coupled-cavity laser with high side-mode-suppression-ratio (SMSR) in the 40 dB range. Sixteen-channel and twenty-six channel wavelength switchable lasers with 100 GHz spacing are demonstrated with the maximal SMSR of 40 dB and 37 dB, respectively. They do not require complex gratings, multiple epitaxial growths, or complex tuning algorithms. The device size is only 500 μm×300 μm. Such a simple, compact, and high-performance laser has great potential as a low-cost alternative to existing complex tunable lasers for wide deployment in optical networks and beyond.