Abstract

Semiconductor injection lasers are known to be tunable over a range of order k_B T. Quantum-well lasers, in particular, are shown to exhibit flattened, broadband gain spectra at a particular pumping condition. The gain requirement for a grating-tuned external cavity configuration is examined and is applied to a semiconductor quantum-well laser with an optimized length of gain region. The coupled-cavity formalism is employed to examine the conditions for continuous tuning. The possible tuning range of double-heterostructure lasers is compared to that of quantum-well lasers. The predicted broadband tunability of quantum-well lasers is confirmed experimentally by grating-tuning of uncoated lasers exceeding 120 nm, with single, longitudinal mode output power exceeding 300 mW.

© 1989 Optical Society of America