Reduction of effective linewidth enhancement factor alpha /sub eff/ of DFB lasers with complex coupling coefficients

Abstract
The effective linewidth enhancement factor alpha /sub eff/ of DFB lasers which have both gain and index coupling coefficients is theoretically analyzed. The unique reduction mechanism of alpha /sub eff/ due to the optical negative feedback of modal phase and modal gain in gain coupled DFB lasers was found for the first time. The numerical result showed that alpha /sub eff/ can be reduced to almost one half of the material defined linewidth enhancement factor alpha when there exists an index coupling coefficient comparable to the gain coupling coefficient.<>