Multiwavelength lasers with homogeneous gain and intensity-dependent loss

• DOI: 10.1016/j.optcom.2010.12.091
• Publication Date: 2011-01-15T04:16:45Z
• Authors: Feng Li; Xinhuan Feng; Huan Zheng; C. Lu; H.Y. Tam; J. Nathan Kutz; P.K.A. Wai
• Keywords: Intensity; Gain

Abstract Using a simple discrete laser model that incorporates only gain and loss, we showed that lasers with homogeneous gain can have multiwavelength continuous wave output if the loss element is a saturable transmitter. The intensity-dependent loss provides an adaptive balance to the different gain values at different wavelengths. The output power spectrum of the multiwavelength laser will be flat if the laser operates near a peak of the transmission of the intensity-dependent loss.