Abstract

Multifrequency lasers (MFL) (1) are attractive sources for wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems because they can simultaneously deliver many densely spaced optical wavelength channels (2) each of which can be independently modulated. An important characteristic of MFLs is that the relative channel spacing is defined by the geometry of the intracavity waveguide grating router and, therefore, is very stable and reproducible. In this paper, we present and characterize a MFL that can simultaneously oscillate on 18 channels.

© 1996 Optical Society of America