COMPOUND CAVITY REFLECTION MODULATION LASER SYSTEM

摘要

The invention relates to compound cavity optical reflection modulation laser system providing frequency modulation of laser light by phase induced effective reflection modulation of the laser rear facet. The system includes a single mode gain coupled DFB laser integrated with a passive waveguide section to form a compound cavity modulation system. The waveguide includes a multiple quantum well region which is reverse biased to utilize the quantum Stark effect for voltage controlled refractive index modulation, thus providing phase modulation of the laser light. The phase modulated light is fed back to the laser to interfere with the light generated within the laser and to form the output light generated from the compound cavity. The interference effects cause modulation of the effective complex reflection of the rear laser facet which results in frequency modulation of the output light. If required, the frequency modulated light (FM) may be converted into intensity modulated (IM) light by using an additional narrow band optical filter, e.g. Mach-Zehnder interferometer.