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

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 SGTTG laser requires at least one tuning current less than comparable devices. The devices provide full wavelength coverage over a 40nm-broad tuning range that is centered at 1.54μm. 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≥10mW) are obtained over the whole wavelength range from 1520.5 to 1561.5 nm.