120/spl deg/C 10-gb/s uncooled direct Modulated 1.3-/spl mu/m AlGaInAs MQW DFB laser diodes

A 1.3-/spl mu/m AlGaInAs multiquantum well ridge waveguide distributed feedback laser diode was developed. By forming n-InGaAsP grating in the n-InP cladding layer close to the active region, accumulation of the holes in the grating layer was reduced and over 5 mW of output power was obtained at 120/spl deg/C. Clear eye opening was confirmed with no mask hits for OC-192 under 10-Gb/s direct modulation at the temperature up to 120/spl deg/C.     

High-temperature and high-speed operation of a 1.3-/spl mu/m uncooled InGaAsP-InP DFB laser

1.3-/spl mu/m uncooled InGaAsP-InP loss-coupled distributed feedback lasers operating over 10 Gb/s and at 85/spl deg/C were successfully fabricated. In order to achieve high-speed and high-temperature operation simultaneously, the following are thoroughly investigated: modulation-doped and strain-compensated multiple-quantum-well active layers, Fe-doped buried-heterostructure, coupling coefficient of loss-coupled grating, detuning lasing wavelength from the gain peak, and facet coatings. The authors also demonstrate 10 Gb/s transmission with negligible dispersion power penalty over 20 km of nondispersion-shifted fiber at 10 Gb/s for temperatures ranging from 25/spl deg/C to 85/spl deg/C.     

Recombination mechanisms in 1.3-/spl mu/m InAs quantum-dot lasers

We measure, in real units, the radiative and total current density in high performance 1.3-/spl mu/m InAs quantum-dot-laser structures. Despite very low threshold current densities, significant nonradiative recombination (/spl sim/80% of the total recombination) occurs at 300 K with an increasing fraction at higher current density and higher temperature. Two nonradiative processes are identified; the first increases approximately linearly with the radiative recombination while the second increases at a faster rate and is associated with the loss of carriers to either excited dot states or the wetting layer.     

10 Gbit/s data modulation using 1.3 /spl mu/m InGaAs quantum dot lasers

Error-free 8 and 10 Gbit/s data modulation with quantum dot lasers emitting at 1.3 /spl mu/m is presented. 12 Gbit/s open eye patterns are observed. An integrated fibre-optic QD laser module yields error-free data modulation at 10 Gbit/s at a receiver power of -2 dBm.     

Coherence-collapse threshold of 1.3-/spl mu/m semiconductor DFB lasers

The onset of the coherence-collapse threshold is theoretically and experimentally studied for monomode 1.3-/spl mu/m antireflection/high reflection distributed-feedback lasers taking into account facet phase effects. The variation of the coherence collapse from chip to chip due to the facet phase is in the range of 7 dB and remains almost independent of the grating coefficient. Lasers that operate without coherence collapse under -15-dB optical feedback, while exhibiting an efficiency as high as 0.30 W/A, are demonstrated. Such lasers are adequate for 2.5 Gb/s isolator-free transmission without under the International Telecommunication Union recommended return loss.     

Optimization of material parameters in 1.3-/spl mu/m InGaAsN-GaAs lasers

We use a 10-band k/spl middot/p Hamiltonian to investigate gain characteristics of 1.3- /spl mu/m InGaAsN-GaAs 7-nm quantum-well lasers as a function of indium and nitrogen content. The parameters used were obtained by comparison with experimental transition energy data and fitting to measured spontaneous-emission line broadening. We conclude that optimum device performance is obtained by including the minimum amount of nitrogen necessary to prevent strain relaxation at the given well thickness.     

Characterization of the temperature sensitivity of gain and recombination mechanisms in 1.3-/spl mu/m AlGaInAs MQW lasers

The potential of 1.3-/spl mu/m AlGaInAs multiple quantum-well (MQW) laser diodes for uncooled operation in high-speed optical communication systems is experimentally evaluated by characterizing the temperature dependence of key parameters such as the threshold current, transparency current density, optical gain and carrier lifetime. Detailed measurements performed in the 20/spl deg/C-100/spl deg/C temperature range indicate a localized T/sub 0/ value of 68 K at 98/spl deg/C for a device with a 2.8 /spl mu/m ridge width and 700-/spl mu/m cavity length. The transparency current density is measured for temperatures from 20/spl deg/C to 60/spl deg/C and found to increase at a rate of 7.7 A/spl middot/cm/sup -2//spl middot/ /spl deg/C/sup -1/. Optical gain characterizations show that the peak modal gain at threshold is independent of temperature, whereas the differential gain decreases linearly with temperature at a rate of 3/spl times/10/sup -4/ A/sup -1//spl middot//spl deg/C/sup -1/. The differential carrier lifetime is determined from electrical impedance measurements and found to decrease with temperature. From the measured carrier lifetime we derive the monomolecular ( A), radiative (B), and nonradiative Auger (C) recombination coefficients and determine their temperature dependence in the 20/spl deg/C-80/spl deg/C range. Our study shows that A is temperature independent, B decreases with temperature, and C exhibits a less pronounced increase with temperature. The experimental observations are discussed and compared with theoretical predictions and measurements performed on other material systems.     

12.5-gb/s direct Modulation up to 115/spl deg/C in 1.3-/spl mu/m InGaAlAs-MQW RWG DFB lasers with notch-free grating structure

Direct modulation at 12.5 Gb/s of 1.3-/spl mu/m InGaAlAs distributed feedback (DFB) ridge waveguide (RWG) lasers with low-resistance notch-free gratings running up to 115/spl deg/C is experimentally demonstrated. It was achieved by the combination of the high differential gain of an InGaAlAs MQW active layer, high characteristic temperature of RWG structure, and low-resistance notch-free grating. Moreover, successful transmission of 10-Gb/s modulated signals over 30-km standard single-mode fiber was achieved with the laser running at up to 115/spl deg/C. These results confirm the suitability of this type of laser for use as the cost-effective light source in 12.5-Gb/s and 10-Gb/s datacom applications.     

Continuous-wave operation up to 36/spl deg/C of 1.3-/spl mu/m GaInAsP-InP vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We introduced ion-beam assisted deposition in order to improve the quality of Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and SiO/sub 2/, which were used as part of the mirrors of 1.3-/spl mu/m GaInAsP-InP vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). The refractive index of Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ was improved to 1.63 from 1.56 and the one of SiO/sub 2/ increased to 1.47 from 1.45. Low-threshold room-temperature continuous-wave (CW) operation of 1.3-/spl mu/m VCSEL with the improved mirrors was demonstrated. The threshold current was 2.4 mA at 20/spl deg/C. The CW operating temperature was raised to 36/spl deg/C, which is a record high temperature for 1.3-/spl mu/m VCSEL.     

Low-driving-current temperature-stable 10 Gbit/s operation of p-doped 1.3 /spl mu/m quantum dot lasers between 20 and 90/spl deg/C

Low-driving-current temperature-stable 10 Gbit/s direct modulation was achieved for optimised 200 mum-long short cavity 1.3 mum p-doped quantum dot lasers. Driving conditions were 25.2 mA_p-p for the modulation current and 23.4 mA for the bias current through the whole temperature range from 20 to 90degC     

Bidirectional, subcarrier-multiplexed transmission using 1.3-/spl mu/m Fabry-Perot lasers

We demonstrate a full-duplex, subcarrier-multiplexed, transmission system which employs 1.3-/spl mu/m Fabry-Perot strained layer MQW laser diode transmitters in both directions. Coherent effects are reduced by using lasers with different mode spacing.     

Time-domain modeling of mode suppression in 1.3-/spl mu/m Fabry-Perot lasers

Fabry-Perot lasers still comprise the bulk of lasers used in optical fiber systems. The spectral envelope, of the Fabry-Perot modes, can be modulated either deliberately or as a consequence of processing stages. This can be beneficial, in the case of modal sculpturing where specific Fabry-Perot modes are suppressed, or a hindrance in the case of poor devices. A time-domain model is used to model 1.3-/spl mu/m Fabry-Perot lasers. Simulated power conserving reflective sites are introduced between sections in the model to simulate the effect of reflective sites from etch pits on the output characteristics of real lasers. Spectral modulation of the laser output is reported in agreement with previous experimental results and the strength of reflections required is investigated. We also report the use of the model to investigate the effect of fiber dispersion on the modulated laser output with different spectral mode modulation.     

Reliability analysis of AlGaInAs lasers at 1.3 /spl mu/m

Long-term reliability of 2.5 and 10 Gbit/s 1.3 /spl mu/m AlGaInAs lasers has been demonstrated. Analysis of accelerated life test predicts median life of /spl ges/1.57/spl times/10/sup 6/ h (180 years) at 85/spl deg/C.     

10-Gb/s error-free transmission under optical reflection using isolator-free 1.3- /spl mu/m InP-based vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Error-free transmission through 10-km single-mode fiber at 10 Gb/s under -13-dB optical reflections has been demonstrated for the first time using a directly modulated 1.3-/spl mu/m InP-based VCSEL without any optical isolator. The 13-GHz relaxation oscillation frequency and stable polarization suppresses relative intensity noise degradation under optical reflection. Only 1-dB error-free power penalty has been observed with optical reflection set with the worst polarization direction.     

Highly reliable 1.3 /spl mu/m InGaAlAs buried-heterostructure laser fabricated with in-situ cleaning

An in-situ-cleaned and regrown 1.3 /spl mu/m InGaAlAs buried-heterostructure laser was fabricated for the first time. The degradation of its driving current was about 1% after a 3000 h aging test. It can thus be concluded from this result that in-situ cleaning is a promising means of fabricating highly reliable, high-performance InGaAlAs BH lasers.     

High-frequency modulation characteristics of 1.3-/spl mu/m InGaAs quantum dot lasers

In this letter, we report results of small-signal modulation characteristics of self-assembled 1.3-/spl mu/m InGaAs-GaAs quantum dot (QD) lasers at room temperature. The narrow ridge-waveguide lasers were fabricated with multistack InGaAs self-assembled QDs in active region. A high characteristic temperature of T/sub o/=210 K with threshold current density of 200A/cm/sup 2/ was obtained. Small-signal modulation bandwidth of f/sub -3 dB/=12 GHz was measured at 300 K with differential gain of dg/dn/spl cong/2.4/spl times/10/sup -14/ cm/sup 2/ from detailed characteristics. We observed that a limitation of modulation bandwidth in high current injection appeared with gain saturation. This property can direct future high-speed QD laser design.     

1.3-/spl mu/m Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with double-bonded GaAs-AlAs Bragg mirrors

We demonstrate, for the first time, double-bonded AlGaInAs strain-compensated quantum-well 1.3-/spl mu/m vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). GaAs-AlAs Bragg mirrors were wafer-bonded on both sides of a cavity containing the AlGaInAs strain-compensated multiple-quantum-well active layers sandwiched by two InP layers. The lasers have operated under pulsed conditions at room temperature. A record low pulsed threshold current density of 4.2 kA/cm/sup 2/ and a highest maximum light output power greater than 4.6 mW have been achieved. The maximum threshold current characteristic temperature T/sub 0/ of 132 K is the best for any long wavelength VCSELs. The laser operated in a single-longitudinal mode, with a side-mode suppression ratio of more than 40 dB, which is the best results for 1.3-/spl mu/m VCSELs.     

Improved high-temperature performance of 1.3-1.5-/spl mu/m InNAsP-InGaAsP quantum-well microdisk lasers

We report for the first time lasing action in the InNAsP-InGaAsP material system. Dramatic improvement in lasing action in a microdisk cavity was observed at elevated temperature up to 70/spl deg/C, which is about 120/spl deg/C higher than that of InGaAs-InGaAsP microdisk. This resulted in the first optically pumped InNAsP-InGaAsP microdisk lasers capable of above room-temperature lasing. The improvement of lasing temperature can be attributed to a large conduction band offset between the quantum well and barriers in the InNAsP-InGaAsP material system.     

Small-signal modulation characteristics of p-doped 1.1- and 1.3-/spl mu/m quantum-dot lasers

We have investigated the small-signal modulation characteristics of 1.1and 1.3-/spl mu/m p-doped quantum-dot lasers in order to evaluate the potential of acceptor doping. The maximum measured 3-dB bandwidth of the 1.1- and 1.3-/spl mu/m lasers are 11 and 8 GHz, respectively, which are only marginally higher than those in the corresponding undoped devices.