Travelling wave analysis on high-speed performance of Q-modulated distributed feedback laser

The structure of a Q-modulated distributed feedback laser is designed and simulated. A large reflectivity modulation of the rear reflector is achieved by using an anti-resonant cavity formed by two deep trenches with the one between the modulator and phase section filled by a high index dielectric material. The travelling wave model is presented to analyze the high speed performance of the laser. Due to the effect of the wave propagation in the structure, the modulation extinction ratio decreases with increasing cavity length. It is shown that 40 Gb/s RZ signal modulation can be achieved with an extinction ratio of 7 dB and 10 dB, respectively, for a cavity length of 500 μm and 300 μm.