Abstract

The generation of optical RF-signals is of great interest for application in high-speed fiber-optic networks and for sub-carrier modulation optical links. Sources considered for such applications include mode-locked semiconductor or fiber lasers, directly modulated laser diodes or heterodyning of two single mode sources. Electrically tunable self-pulsations have been observed in DFB lasers with a very high coupling coefficient using two section index-¹ and gain-coupling.² Operation regimes of stable oscillations have been predicted in mutually coupled lasers and laser arrays.⁴ To the best of our knowledge this is the first experimental demonstration of stable RF-signal generation using mutually evanescent field coupled DFB lasers. The mutually coupled twin stripe DFB lasers presented in this work are capable of generating a pure widely tunable RF- tone at frequencies exceeding the relaxation oscillation frequency.

© 2002 Optical Society of America