Spatial hole-burning effects in distributed-feedback semiconductor lasers

Abstract

Single-longitudinal mode lasers are key components in many optical communication systems. For single-mode operation commonly distributed feedback (DFB) lasers are used. Depending on the application, these devices have to fulfill different requirements in terms of optical output power, side-mode suppression, laser linewidth, bandwidth etc. On the other hand, it is well known that the DFB device characteristics can be severely deteriorated by spatial hole burning (SHB) effects. Therefore, it is the purpose of this article to review the effects of SHB on DFB laser characteristics and to discuss DFB structures with reduced SHB. The article is organized as follows: After a brief recovery on the theory and technology of DFB lasers, the effects of SHB will be described, followed by the presentation of some DFB structures with reduced SHB effects.