Abstract

The spatial phase of the grating at the partially reflective facet(s) of distributed feedback lasers (DFBs) has a profound effect on the static and dynamic laser performance characteristics.^1,2 In this paper, we demonstrate a rapid, nondestructive, and noninvasive scanning photoluminescence (PL) technique for the determination of the phase of the grating at the cleaved or coated facets of “in-phase” gain-coupled (GC) DFBs. The scanning PL technique provides an important experimental tool for the correlation between DFB performance and simulations using computer models.

© 1996 Optical Society of America