MEMS-tunable vertical-cavity SOAs

We present the signal gain, wavelength tuning characteristics, saturation properties, and noise figure (NF) of MEMS-based widely tunable vertical-cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers (VCSOAs) for various optical cavity designs, and we compare the theoretical results to data generated from a number of experimental devices. Using general Fabry-Pe/spl acute/rot relationships, it is possible to model both the wavelength tuning characteristics and the peak signal gain of tunable vertical-cavity amplifiers, while a rate-equation analysis is used to describe the saturation output power and NF as a function of the VCSOA resonant wavelength. Additionally, the basic design principles for an integrated electrostatic actuator are outlined. It is found that MEMS-tunable VCSOAs follow many of the same design trends as fixed-wavelength devices. However, with tunable devices, the effects of varying mirror reflectance and varying single-pass gain associated with the MEMS-based tuning mechanism lead to changing amplifier properties over the wavelength span of the device.     

Continuously tunable single-frequency laser diode utilising transverse tuning scheme

A new wavelength-tunable single-frequency lase diode has been developed using a tunable twin-guide structure. The applied transverse tuning scheme provides a basically continuous tuning behaviour with only a single wavelength control current. The first 400 mu m-long, lambda =1.56 mu m devices are tunable over a range of 1.5 nm and show the expected continuous tuning behaviour.<>     

Complex Effective Dielectric Permittivity of Micromechanically Tunable Microstrip Lines

It is considered an influence of physical-topological parameters of controlled microstrip lines where characteristics modification is achieved by signal electrode movement over the substrate on effective dielectric permittivity and electromagnetic energy loss in the line expressed in form of complex permittivity. There are stated the ways of increase of sensitivity of effective dielectric permittivity modification to signal electrode shift and loss decrease. There are determined ultimate characteristics of tuning and loss. There are represented calculations of transfer factor effective permittivity corresponding to experimental results. These results can be used for development of controlled resonant elements and phase shifters with application of electrically tunable micromovement devices, such as piezo- and electrostrictive actuators or microelectromechanic systems. Due to application of invariant relations of physical-topological parameters represented calculations are suitable for estimation of tuning factors and loss of devices with micromechanical control in a wide range of operating frequency with application of wide range of materials.     

Frequency and wavelength tunable optical microwave source based on a distributed Bragg reflector self-pulsation laser

A frequency and wavelength tunable self-pulsation laser based on DBR laser devices is reported for the first time.This laser generates continuous tunable optical microwave in the range of 1.87-21.81 GHz with 3-dB linewidth about 10 MHz by tuning the injection currents on the front and back gain sections,and exhibits wavelength tuning range from 1536.28 to 1538.73 nm by tuning the injection currents on the grating section.     

Long wavelength-tunable VCSELs with optimized MEMS bridge tuning structure

In this letter, we present the first demonstration of a long wavelength-tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) using a monolithically integrated bridge tuning microelectromechanical system structure. The use of such a tuning structure allows for better wavelength tuning repeatability and wider tuning range as compared to cantilever-based tunable VCSELs. The devices show tuning ranges over 22 nm with peak output power of 1.3 mW in continuous-wave operation at 15/spl deg/C. The bridge structure has a mechanical resonant frequency of 80 kHz. The transmission test through 300-km single-mode fiber (SMF-28) using the tunable VCSEL under mechanical vibration below 10 KHz and 10-G acceleration shows little bit-error-rate degradation.     

Tunable optical filters for dense WDM networks

WDM is currently taking over as the leading technology in point-to-point transmission links. For optical implementation of WDM networks, logical functionalities such as wavelength (channel) selection should be carried out in the wavelength domain; thus, the development of dynamic optical devices is required. One key device is a tunable optical filter. Important features of such a filter include low insertion loss, narrow bandwidth, high sidelobe suppression, large dynamic range, fast tuning speed, a simple control mechanism, small size, and cost effectiveness. Here, an extensive overview of the different technologies used to produce tunable optical filters is presented. Among them, fiber filters such as fiber Bragg gratings and fiber Fabry Perot are the most commercialized, yet inherently limited in their dynamic speeds. For high demanding dynamics, micro-machined and acousto-optic filters can offer a good solution for microsecond tuning speeds. Faster tunable devices, in nanosecond tuning speeds, might emerge out of microresonators, electrooptic filters, and active DBR filters     

Widely tunable 850-nm metal-filled asymmetric cladding distributed Bragg reflector lasers

Broadly tunable distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers utilizing metal-filled surface-etched diffraction gratings were fabricated on a GaAs-unstrained quantum well with AlGaAs core and cladding layers. Devices with 200- and 400-/spl mu/m gratings sections were fabricated. Single-mode devices are fabricated over a broad spectral range, exhibiting over 55 mW of single-facet output power. The optical properties of this structure are analyzed in terms of effective index step between the peak and valley of the grating and scattering loss in the DBR. Discrete devices were fabricated with lasing wavelengths between 846.6 and 862.9 nm at intervals of 1.44nm, representing a range of 16.3 nm. Wavelength tuning by current injection into the DBR section is explored, and a broad tuning range of over 18 nm is measured while single-mode performance is maintained. The spectral linewidth of these devices is measured. The temperature dependence of light versus current, threshold current values, and spectral characteristics are also examined.     

单脊条形可调谐电吸收调制DFB激光器

报道了一种波长可热调谐的电吸收调制分布反馈激光器(Electroabsorptionmodulateddistributedfeedbacklaser,EML)。在激光器条形的侧面淀积一薄膜加热器,EML实现了 2 2nm的连续调谐。在调谐范围内,激光器输出功率的变化小于 3dB。采用端面有效反射率方法和耦合波理论的计算表明:采用相调制方法,可实现调谐范围达3 2nm的EML。如果热调谐与相调谐方法结合,可在较宽范围内实现波长快速调谐的EML     

Tunable erbium-doped fiber laser with a reflection Mach-Zehnderinterferometer

The concept of a tunable erbium-doped fiber ring laser based on a reflection Mach-Zehnder interferometer is presented. The principle of operation is demonstrated with a fiber version of the interferometer which gave a tuning range of 39 nm. With current electro-optic devices, high speed tuning should be possible     

Widely tunable Y-coupled cavity integrated interferometric injection laser

A novel tunable single mode light source has been developed in the InGaAsP/InP material system. The Y-coupled cavity (YCC) type integrated interferometric injection (I/sup 3/) wavelength tunable laser operates in the 1300 nm wavelength region with a sidemode suppression of about 20 dB. By adjusting the currents through the four all active sections of this YCC-I/sup 3/-laser, a total tuning range of more than 14 nm and continuous tuning of 1.15 nm was obtained from non-optimised first devices.<>     

Tunable laser diodes utilizing transverse tuning scheme

High-performance devices have been developed in the 1.5-μm wavelength range by transversely integrating the lasing and tuning functions, enabling continuous wavelength tuning over a frequency range up to 900 GHz. The convenient wavelength tuning by a single control current in a tunable twin-guide (TTG) distributed-feedback (DFB) structure makes these lasers very attractive for application in coherent detection, and initial system demonstrators have already proved their suitability in practice     

Tunable linear CMOS current mirror

Based on triode MOSFETs as tunable devices, a tunable linear current mirror is proposed, whose current gain is tunable over a wide range. Simulations show that, total harmonic distortion on the output current is within 2% for a tuning range of almost five octaves. Although the structure is in the form of an active-input current mirror, keeping the tuned MOSFETs in triode region significantly relaxes the stability problems of an active-input current mirror. This issue is revealed by theoretical analyses and further simulations are included for demonstration. An application example is also supplied.     

Compact frequency and bandwidth tunable stopband filters using split ring resonators and varactors coupled transmission line

Two highly compact tunable stopband filters using microstrip transmission lines coupled with split ring resonators (SRRs) and varactor diodes are presented. Frequency or bandwidth tuning capability of each device is demonstrated. The frequency tunable filter, realized by a single stage, shows a wide tuning range of 19.8% with a maximum bandwidth of 5% and an insertion loss of approximately 20 dB at 4 GHz. The bandwidth tunable filter, realized by double stages, shows a 10-dB bandwidth of 19–34% with a biasing voltage of 0–10 V. The implemented frequency tuning and bandwidth tuning devices show a significant area reduction of 60.1% and 53.5%, respectively, in comparison with a similar frequency or bandwidth tunable structure presented by others. Equivalent circuit models are presented. The measured S-parameters are in good agreement with simulated ones.     

Subnanosecond tunable laser using a single electroabsorption tuning super structure grating

A new tunable laser structure using a single electroabsorption (EA) tuning super structure grating section for fast wavelength switching operation, has been realized. The tuning mechanism of this absorption change distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser is based on a localized absorption variation induced in a multielectrode EA-SSG section. These devices exhibit a 2.5-nm tuning range with three modes and a switching time, between two successive wavelength channels, shorter than 250 ps. The output power variation under tuning is lower than 1.2 dB.     

Orthogonally polarized RF optical single sideband generation with integrated ring resonators

We review recent work on narrowband orthogonally polarized optical RF single sideband generators as well as dualchannel equalization,both based on high-Q integrated ring resonators.The devices operate in the optical telecommunications C-band and enable RF operation over a range of either fixed or thermally tuneable frequencies.They operate via TE/TM mode birefringence in the resonator.We achieve a very large dynamic tuning range of over 55 dB for both the optical carrier-to-sideband ratio and the dual-channel RF equalization for both the fixed and tunable devices.     

A widely tunable erbium-doped fiber laser pumped at 532 nm

A tunable erbium-doped fiber laser with a very wide continuous-tuning range (1522-1567 nm) is discussed. The wide tuning range was achieved using an aluminum/erbium-doped fiber; the aluminum codoping is known to broaden the gain spectrum substantially. The tunable fiber laser has a ring laser configuration utilizing an inline tunable etalon as the tuning element. Continuous tuning over 45 nm in the spectral range of 1522-1567 nm was achieved with 80 nW of pumping at 532 nm, using the second harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser as the pump source     

Electronic tunability of ferroelectric liquid crystal infiltrated photonic crystal fibre

The electronic tunability of ferroelectric liquid crystal filled photonic crystal fibres is demonstrated for the first time. The tunability is obtained in the wavelength range of 1500-1600-nm, with a free spectral range of-20-nm. The electronic tunability is achieved by applying an electric field onto the infiltrated photonic crystal fibre which facilitates the photonic bandgap tuning owing to the microsecond-order switching speeds of ferroelectric liquid crystals. The polarised transmission spectrum shows the behaviour of a tunable notch filter with a change in applied voltage. The results obtained could pave the way for the fabrication of fast tunable all-in-fibre devices in the telecom wavelength range.     

Tuning range and spectral selectivity of the distributed forwardcoupled (DFC) laser

The tuning performance and spectral filtering mechanism in the distributed forward-coupled (DFC) laser diode are investigated. This widely tunable device is based on codirectional mode coupling along the entire laser length by a gain/loss grating perturbation. Due to the transverse integration, even rather short (L≈300-600 μm) DFC lasers may achieve side-mode suppression superior to that of previous codirectionally coupled devices over similar tuning ranges. Model calculations yield a tuning range above 100 nm at 1.5-μm wavelength with a side-mode suppression ratio around 30 dB     

Sampled grating tunable twin-guide laser diodes with over 40-nm electronic tuning range

Device and tuning characteristics of sampled grating tunable twin-guide laser diodes are presented. The vertically integrated, monolithic widely tunable laser requires only two tuning currents to fully cover a wavelength range of more than 40 nm by electrooptic tuning. Its tuning behavior is quasi-continuous with up to 8.2-nm broad continuous tuning regions. High sidemode suppression (SMSR /spl ges/ 35 dB) as well as large output power (P /spl ges/ 10 mW) are obtained over the wavelength range from 1520.5 to 1561.5 nm.     

First demonstration of thermally poled electrooptically tunablefiber Bragg gratings

We demonstrate electrooptic tuning of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) fabricated in a thermally poled fiber. 40 pm of tuning was demonstrated, corresponding to an electrooptic coefficient of 0.25 pm/V. Such electrooptic tunable FBG's have strong potential for numerous devices, including all-fiber amplitude modulators and high-speed tunable filters