λ/4-shifted InGaAsP/InP DFB lasers

\lambda/4
-shifted InGaAsP/InP DFB lasers were studied theoretically and experimentally. The effect of reflectivities at the end of a DFB region and that of a
\lambda/4
shift position were analyzed in terms of stability of single-longitudinal-mode operation and asymmetric power distribution. The shift of the
\lambda/4
-shift position from the center to a certain place in the DFB region, with the end reflectivities less than several tenths of a percent, seemed most effective for efficient power extraction and reproducible DSM operation. The devices emitting at 1.5 μm range were fabricated by using negative and positive photoresists and employing one-step holographic exposure. They exhibited single-longitudinal-mode operations just at or closely around the center of the stopband, i.e., the Bragg wavelength. The slight wavelength deviations from the center were found to be attributed to the accidental phase-shift variations from the optimal value. Concerning such deviations in the fabricated devices, a simple and useful criterion, for example,
P_{0}/P_{1} \geq 2-3
at
I/I_{th} = 0.9
, for stable DSM operation was presented. Statistically, single-longitudinal-mode operations were observed in 95 devices out of 100, and the theoretical prediction was verified. The side-mode-suppression ratios under high-speed direct modulation were 35 dB or more.