Discrete mode lasers for applications in access networks

• Published in: 2007 9th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks
• Main Authors: Kaszubowska-Anandarajah, Aleksandra, Barry, Liam P., Anandarajah, Prince M., Guignard, Celine, Kelly, Brian, O'Gorman, James
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 2007
• Subjects: Optical communication; DML
• Online Access: https://doras.dcu.ie/2324/1/ieee_icton_2007_5.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTON.2007.4296295

Fast development of the modern telecommunication networks such as fiber-to-the-home or radio-over-fiber systems require an inexpensive yet reliable optical transmitter for electro-optic conversion. Such devices should be able to generate stable, single moded optical signals suitable for athermal operation. Discrete Mode Lasers (DMLs) are able to fulfill all the above-mentioned requirements with the added benefit of low sensitivity to optical feedback. DMLs are essentially Fabry-Perot lasers in which the refractive index is modified by introducing perturbations along very small sections of the laser cavity. These modifications result in a single mode laser output with a very narrow linewidth (order of 400 kHz). In this paper, we demonstrate how a DML can outperform the commonly used/commercially available DFB lasers in terms of linewidth, sensitivity to optical feedback and transmission performance in the presence of feedback.