Multiwavelength picosecond optical pulse generation using an actively mode-locked multichannel grating cavity laser

A multichannel grating cavity (MGC) InGaAsP-InP ridge diode laser is found to be suitable for multiwavelength ultrashort optical pulse generation using active mode-locking techniques. By using different configurations of the MGC laser, dual wavelength picosecond pulses are successfully produced with good spectral quality, either simultaneously or with a programmable relative delay between the channels. For a channel separation of 2.2 nm, pulses with a duration of 60 ps and a spectral width of 11.6 GHz have been obtained. The experimental results are compared with those from a theoretical analysis of the multiwavelength mode-locking process using a set of modified coupled-cavity rate equations. The minimum achievable pulsewidths generated by the actively mode-locked MGC laser are shown to be limited by the resolution bandwidth of grating used. The dependence of pulsewidth on RF drive frequency detuning is examined and it is found that the ultrashort pulses can be obtained over a wide range of frequency detuning. The interchannel cross-talk originating from gain saturation and carrier depletion is also discussed.