Masakatsu OKADA, Mitsuo HASHIMOTO and Takaaki FUNAKOSHI

Department of Photonics, Ritsumeikan University, Noji, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525 Japan

(Received June 4, 1996; Accepted July 16, 1996)

Wavelength switchings of a Fabry-Perot semiconductor laser are experimentally demonstrated by applying externally optical input pulses detuned from a cavity-resonant wavelength of the semiconductor laser with a constant injection current. The wavelength region of optical switching ranges from less than 0.1 nm to several nm over gain spectrum, being locked to the wavelength of optical inputs. These behaviors are based on multistability and multi-split branches in the optical output versus detuned optical input characteristics, caused by the carrier-induced refractive index change accompanied by optical injections. The experimental results are believed to be useful for wavelength division multiplexing and exchange in optical communication.

Key words : semiconductor laser, optical multistability, optical switching, wavelength switching, bistable laser diode