Design-in reliability of modern distributed feedback (DFB) InP lasers: Can we meet up the stringent wavelength-division multiplex (WDM) requirement?

The stringent WDM reliability requirement is increasingly difficult to meet. We study the design-in reliability of DFB InP lasers and showed that p-metal contact, epitaxial regrowth interface and substrate quality are influential in laser reliability. Significant reliability improvement is achieved with design and process optimization.