Monolithically Integrated DFB Lasers for Tunable and Narrow Linewidth Millimeter-Wave Generation

A monolithic optoelectronic device for the generation of tunable and narrow linewidth millimeter-wave signals is presented. The device consists of three mutually injected distributed feedback lasers whose emission frequencies are stabilized via a four-wave mixing process. Their beating on a high-speed photodetector generates a narrow linewidth electrical signal that is continuously tunable over several tens of gigahertz.