Bardia Pezeshki

20-mW widely tunable laser module using DFB array and MEMS selection

The authors describe a novel configuration for a wavelength selectable laser that provides wide tuning and distributed-feedback (DFB) performance and reliability at a fundamentally low cost structure. The configuration consists of a DFB laser array and a micromechanical mirror that selects one element of the array. The MEMS tilt mirror also loosens the tolerances, since the fine optical alignment is done electronically. Only one laser is operated at a time, with coarse tuning realized by selecting the correct laser and fine tuning by adjusting the chip temperature. The 33-nm total tuning at 20-mW fiber coupled power is obtained in a fully functional module.

Widely tunable laser module using DFB array and MEMs selection with internal wavelength locker

We describe a C-band tunable module using a DFB laser array and a MEMs mirror for laser selection. The module incorporates an internal wavelength-locker and a closed-loop mirror positioning servo to ensure stable operation.

High-precision high-yield laser source using DFB array

We present high-yield efficient distributed-feedback lasers with excellent wavelength control. An array of 12 lasers with highly reflecting/antireflecting facets is fabricated on a single chip with precisely controlled variations in the grating period or phase relative to the facets. The stripe that best meets requirements is selected for bonding. From 200 unscreened chips, 93% contained lasers that achieved the specified power of 25 mW at 175 mA, 55/spl deg/C, and 41% achieved a /spl plusmn/0.1-nm wavelength tolerance at 25 mW, 55/spl deg/C. This low-cost high-precision device requires little thermal tuning for wavelength-division-multiplexed applications and reduces the power consumption of the transmitter.

2.5-Gb/s modulated widely tunable laser using an electroabsorption modulated DFB array and MEMS selection

A widely tunable 2.5-Gb/s modulated source using a distributed feedback (DFB) array and electroabsorption (EA) modulators is demonstrated. In order to overcome the optical bandwidth limitation of a single modulator, a 12 element array of modulators with varying bandgaps is integrated with a corresponding DFB array at different wavelengths. Selective area growth enables the bandgap of the modulators to be finely adjusted at a 10-/spl mu/m pitch. A microelectromechanical system mirror selects the output of a particular EA and couples the light into fiber. Uniform high-speed modulation could be obtained in a butterfly package over a 36-nm tuning range.

Tunable Chirp Managed Laser

We demonstrate a compact tunable chirp managed laser (CML) comprising a radio-frequency switch, a directly modulated distributed feedback laser array, a microelectromechanical systems mirror, and an optical filter and obtain error-free transmission performance over 30 nm at 10.7 Gb/s up to 200 km without electrical dispersion compensation (EDC) or optical dispersion compensation. Transmission distance is stretched to 300 km over the same wavelength range by adding a standard EDC to the receiver.

Narrowly spaced DFB array with integrated heaters for rapid tuning applications

We describe a 12-element distributed feedback laser array, with 10-/spl mu/m pitch, covering a 36-nm tuning range, and having an integrated heater on each element. The novel heater design heats just the active laser yet requires only one additional contact for the entire array. Each individual laser element can be temperature tuned more than 3.2 nm in under 100 /spl mu/s using its heater.