Analysis of self-pulsating three-section DBR lasers

The characteristics of a three-section distributed Bragg reflector laser showing self-pulsation have been analyzed using a large signal time-domain traveling-wave simulator. The device dynamic properties have been investigated in all their complexity and analyzed as functions of the linewidth enhancement factor and of the injected current in the active and in the phase control sections. The simulation results have clearly shown the fundamental role of four wave mixing on the laser characteristics (output power, spectrum, etc.) and have been quantitatively correlated with the few available theoretical and experimental results. The considered self-pulsation operation frequencies around 40 GHz are of interest for practical applications.