Fast wavelength switching with tunable distributed amplification distributed feedback laser by feedforward control technique

We proposed a method of accelerating the wavelength switching of a tunable distributed amplification distributed feedback (DFB) laser by feedforward control. From experimental laser responses, we designed and simulated feedforward controllers using MATLAB/Simulink so as to reduce the time for wavelength stabilization. We applied this method to two different cases involving a laser drive circuit with a large output current and a 50 ns rise time, and a laser drive circuit with a moderate output current and a 5 ns rise time. In both cases, we showed that the wavelength switching times were improved from 450 to 150 ns and from 75 to 35 ns, respectively. From these results, the proposed control technique is confirmed to be efficient for possible practical applications.