Abstract

Wavelength converters, that transform information from one wavelength to another are becoming key components in future all-optical networks.¹ In system experiments, only semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) have demonstrated polarization independence and must be used in association with a cw tunable source providing the output wavelength.² To overcome this complex set-up, distributed Bragg reflector lasers (DBR)³ under carrier-depletion effect can be used but such device is polarization sensitive. Bulk quaternary active layer can be used to realize polarization-insensitive devices.⁴ Due to the isotropic gain of bulk material, the confinement factors of the TE and TM modes are the only parameters to control the polarization insensitivity, which imposes the use of square waveguides. In this paper, we report on a DBR laser with a nearly square bulk active section to be used as polarization-insensitive wavelength converter.

© 1996 Optical Society of America