Influence of mode competition on the fast wavelength switching of an SG-DBR laser

Because the sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector (SG-DBR) laser is among the most attractive sources for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems, it is important and necessary to investigate its wavelength switching characteristics. This behavior will set the capability limits for reallocation in wavelength-routed optical networks. In this paper, that mode competition plays an important role in the wavelength switching dynamics of DBR-type tunable lasers is confirmed experimentally. By using a time-resolved spectrum technique, the loss-dependent mode competition behavior has been directly observed, for the first time, from measurements of wavelength switching on an SG-DBR laser.