Bijan GHAFARY and Masakatsu OKADA

The Department of Photonics, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1, Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577 Japan

(Received September 29, 1998; Accepted February 3, 1999)

The multistability of a Fabry-Perot semiconductor diode laser for an injection current is presented when multi-optical inputs detuned from the cavity-resonant wavelength of a semiconductor laser are injected. m+1 Multi-stable states are shown to be produced in the optical output versus injection current characteristics for m detuned optical inputs. It is shown that optical output can be switched in any one of the optical input wavelengths in a relatively fast response time by applying injection current pulses. Analytical expression based on linear stability analysis is presented to predict the switching time to free oscillating mode, and larger optical input power and detuning are effective to shorten the switching time. The results here are believed to be useful to extend wavelength switching to a scope of electronic manipulation without modulation of optical inputs and can be applicable to actual devices.

Key words : bistable semicoductor laser, wavelength switching