Gain stabilization of a semiconductor optical amplifier by distributed feedback

The amplifying properties of a distributed feedback (DFB-) laser are investigated at the long wavelength side with respect to its emission wavelength for the first time. A stabilized signal gain is observed up to the 3 dB-saturation output power compared to a semiconductor traveling wave amplifier. In view of an analysis of this gain stabilization, the input power necessary to turn off laser emission at the Bragg wavelength is determined as a function of the DFB-laser output power under free running conditions.<
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