WAVELENGTH CONVERSION IN DISTRIBUTED-FEEDBACK LASERS

We present both theoretical and experimental studies of four-wave mixi ng in a distributed-feedback (DFB) laser. The measured amplified spont aneous emission and probe gain spectra are also used to extract the DF B laser parameters. We use mean-field theory to investigate both nearl y degenerate and nondegenerate four-wave mixings. For small pump-probe detunings, the dependence of multiple conjugate waves on the pump and probe powers is measured. For larger detunings, the gain of the probe signal and the conversion efficiency are measured in great detail up to a detuning of +/-550 GHz. The measured conversion efficiencies as a function of the pump-probe detuning and the power scaling laws are co mpared with those of the theoretical results. We also demonstrate the DFB cavity effects on the conversion efficiency spectrum.