Tunable single-mode Fabry-Perot laser diode using a built-in external cavity and its modulation characteristics

Abstract

A tunable single-mode laser is obtained by using a weakly coupled cavity structure involved in a coaxially packaged Fabry-Perot laser diode. The cleaved end facet of the coupling fiber becomes an optical reflector and forms an external cavity with a laser facet. The single-mode oscillation condition is controlled and stabilized by tuning the operating temperature. The tuning range is about 10 nm with the side-mode suppression ratio of more than 27 dB when the temperature changes from 11.5 degrees C to 25 degrees C. Direct modulation characteristics were investigated, and our results show that a shorter external cavity can bear deeper modulation depth. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.