Enhanced wavelength tuning range in two-section complex-coupled DFB lasers by alternating gain and loss coupling

A novel tunable two-section complex-coupled distributed feedback (DFB) lasers were demonstrated which exhibited an enhanced wavelength tuning range beyond 7 nm by current injection only. By a simple master-and-slave type of injection current control, either in-phase gain-coupling or antiphase loss-coupling mechanism can be activated, in such a way that one of the two Bragg modes around DFB stopband will become the lasing mode, and its wavelength can be simply and independently tuned by corresponding injection current. More then 45 dB side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) over entire tuning range were obtained. Good system performance for 375 km transmission with butt-coupled III-V Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator at 2.5 Gb/s over nondispersion-shifted fiber was also demonstrated.