Semiconductor laser device, semiconductor laser module, and optical fiber amplifier using the semiconductor laser module

A semiconductor laser device having two active-layer stripe structures includes an n-InP substrate, an n-InP clad layer, a lower GRIN-SCH layer, an active layer, an upper GRIN-SCH layer, a p-InP clad layer, and a p-InGaAsP contact layer grown in this order, in a side cross section cut along one of the stripe structure. A high-reflection film is disposed on a reflection-side end surface, and a low-reflection film is disposed on an emission-side end surface. A p-side electrode is disposed on only a part of the upper surface of the p-InGaAsP contact layer so that a current non-injection area is formed on an area absent the p-side electrode.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a technology to reduce degree of polarization, produce little beat noise over a long distance, and exhibit a high power output in a semiconductor laser device, a semiconductor laser module, and an optical fiber amplifier.

BACKGROUND ART

In an optical fiber amplifier based on Raman amplification, it is possible to realize a high-gain optical fiber amplifier by using a high power pumping source employing a plurality of semiconductor laser devices. Since the Raman amplification of a signal light takes place when the polarization of the signal light and the polarization of a pump light are in correct matching, it is necessary to reduce the effect of polarization mismatching between the signal light and the pump light. To achieve this, degree of polarization (DOP) is reduced by eliminating the polarization of the pump light (i.e., depolarization of the pump light).

FIG. 26is a block diagram of one example of a conventional Raman amplifier used in a WDM communication system. InFIG. 26, semiconductor laser modules182ato182dwhich include Fabry-Perot type semiconductor light-emitting elements180ato180dand fiber gratings181ato181din corresponding pairs, output to polarization-combining couplers161aand161blaser beams to constitute the pump light. The semiconductor laser modules182aand182boutput laser beams of the same wavelength. However, the polarization-combining coupler161acombines the laser beams, aligned to have different polarization directions. Similarly, the semiconductor laser modules182cand182doutput laser beams of the same wavelength. However, the polarization-combining coupler161bcombines the laser beams, aligned to have different polarization directions. The polarization-combining couplers161aand161boutput the polarization-combined laser beams to the WDM coupler162. The laser beams output from the polarization-combining couplers161aand161bhave different wavelengths.

The WDM coupler162couples the laser beams output from the polarization-combining couplers161aand161band outputs the coupled laser beam to an amplification fiber164as the pump light through an isolator160and a WDM coupler165. The signal light to be amplified is input from a signal light input fiber169through an isolator163to the amplification fiber164to which the pump light is input, where the signal light is coupled with the pump light and Raman amplified.

The process of manufacturing the optical fiber amplifier will be complicated if the laser beams to be polarization-combined are emitted from stripe structures of different semiconductor elements. The size of the optical fiber amplifier also needs to be scaled up. Therefore, in order to solve these problems, a method of fabricating a Raman amplifier by using a semiconductor laser device that has two stripes on a single semiconductor substrate is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-402819. In this instance, it is possible to simplify the manufacturing process and to downsize the semiconductor laser device itself since a plurality of stripes is fabricated on the single substrate.

However, in the semiconductor laser device that has two stripes (hereinafter “W stripe laser device”) as disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication, the two stripes arranged in parallel to each other are disposed extremely close to each other, with a spacing not more than 100 μm, or about 40 μm for instance, with a resonator formed by the common cleavage surface. The two stripes have almost the same physical structure and, hence, their resonator lengths are almost identical. Besides, due to proximity of the two stripes, the temperatures of their active layers are almost the same. Consequently, oscillation longitudinal mode wavelengths of the emitted laser beams, as well as a spacing of a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes, are likely to coincide between the two stripes. If the oscillation longitudinal modes of the laser beams emitted from the different stripes overlaps, it is not possible any longer to reduce the DOP by polarization-combining the laser beams. This problem, though more conspicuous in a W stripe laser device, may occur even if the two stripes are disposed on different substrates. The phenomenon may be considered to occur because the overlapping of the oscillation longitudinal modes of the two laser beams that are polarization-combined may reduce the fluctuation of phase difference of the two oscillation longitudinal modes being combined, especially when the line width of the oscillation longitudinal modes are narrow, giving rise to a particular polarization state corresponding to the phase difference of the two modes in the combined laser beam.

Another problem arises due to overlapping of oscillation longitudinal modes of the laser beams that are polarization-combined. Normally, immediately after polarization-combining, the polarization components of the laser beams emitted from the two stripes do not interfere with each other. However, when RIN (relative intensity noise) for a laser beam propagated over a long distance is measured, a peak corresponding to a beat noise is observed in the vicinity of 11 GHz, as shown inFIG. 27, as a result of a mixing between the orthogonal polarization components during the long-distance transmission over the optical fiber. Since the Raman amplification in particular is a nonlinear process that takes place in an extremely short timescale, a noise that would develop as shown inFIG. 27due to the beat noise when using the W stripe laser device as the pump light source, would be translated into the signal noise that would hamper the signal transmission.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to realize a semiconductor laser device and a semiconductor laser module which are suitable for an pump light source such as a Raman amplifier, and in which the degree of polarization is minimal and the beat noise, owing to long-distance transmission, does not occur, and an optical fiber amplifier using the semiconductor laser module, which enables a stable high-gain amplification independently of the polarization direction of the signal light.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The semiconductor laser device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first stripe structure that has at least a first active layer grown on a first portion of a semiconductor substrate and a first electrode formed on the first active layer, and emits a first laser beam, a second stripe structure that has at least a second active layer grown on a second portion of the semiconductor substrate and a second electrode formed on the second active layer, and emits a second laser beam, and a non-current-injection area that is formed on a portion of an upper surface of the first stripe structure.

The semiconductor laser device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a first stripe structure that has at least a first active layer grown on a first portion of a semiconductor substrate and a first electrode formed on the first active layer, and emits a first laser beam, and a second stripe structure that has at least a second active layer grown on a second portion of the semiconductor substrate and a second electrode formed on the second active layer, and emits a second laser beam. A thermal conduction efficiency between the first active layer and the first electrode differs from a thermal conduction efficiency between the second active layer and the second electrode.

The semiconductor laser device according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a first active layer grown on a first portion of a semiconductor substrate, a first stripe structure that has a first diffraction grating formed in a vicinity of the first active layer, and emits a first laser beam having a plurality of longitudinal modes with a specific center wavelength, a second active layer grown on a second portion of the semiconductor substrate, and a second stripe structure that has a second diffraction grating formed in a vicinity of the second active layer, and emits a second laser beam having a plurality of longitudinal modes with a specific center wavelength. The center wavelength selected by the first diffraction grating differs from the center wavelength selected by the second diffraction grating.

The semiconductor laser device according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a first stripe structure that has a first active layer grown on a first portion of a semiconductor substrate and a first diffraction grating formed in a vicinity of the first active layer, which selects a first laser beam having a plurality of longitudinal modes with a specific center wavelength, and a second stripe structure that has a second active layer grown on a second portion of the semiconductor substrate and a second diffraction grating formed in a vicinity of the second active layer, which selects a second laser beam having a plurality of longitudinal modes with a specific center wavelength. A difference between the center wavelength of the first laser beam and the center wavelength of the second laser beam is not less than 0.5 times a mode spacing of either of the first laser beam and the second laser beam.

The semiconductor laser device according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a first stripe structure that has a first active layer grown on a first portion of a semiconductor substrate and a first diffraction grating formed in a vicinity of the first active layer, which selects a first laser beam having a plurality of longitudinal modes with a specific center wavelength, and a second stripe structure that has a second active layer grown on a second portion of the semiconductor substrate and a second diffraction grating formed in a vicinity of the second active layer, which selects a second laser beam having a plurality of longitudinal modes with a specific center wavelength. A difference between a peak wavelength of the first laser beam and a peak wavelength of the second laser beam is not less than 0.01 nanometers.

The semiconductor laser device according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a first stripe structure that has a first active layer grown on a first portion of a semiconductor substrate and a first diffraction grating formed in a vicinity of the first active layer, which selects a first laser beam having a plurality of longitudinal modes with a specific center wavelength, and a second stripe structure that has a second active layer grown on a second portion of the semiconductor substrate and a second diffraction grating formed in a vicinity of the second active layer, which selects a second laser beam having a plurality of longitudinal modes with a specific center wavelength. A difference between wavelengths of all the oscillation longitudinal modes that have a difference of not more than 3 dB with respect to a peak power of the first laser beam and wavelengths of all the oscillation longitudinal modes that have a difference of not more than 3 dB with respect to a peak power of the second laser beam is not less than 0.01 nanometers.

The semiconductor laser module according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a semiconductor laser device according to the present invention, a first lens into which the first laser beam and the second laser beam are incident, a polarization rotating unit into which either of the first laser beam and the second laser beam that have passed through the first lens is incident, and rotates the polarization plane of the incident laser beam by a predetermined angle, a polarization-combining unit which has a first port to which the first laser beam is incident from either of the first lens and the polarization rotating unit, a second port to which the second laser beam is incident from either of the first lens and the polarization rotating unit, and a third port that combines the first laser beam and the second laser beam, and an optical fiber that receives a laser beam output from the third port of the polarization-combining unit, and transmits the laser beam to outside.

The optical fiber amplifier according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a pump light source that employs a semiconductor laser device according to the present invention or a semiconductor laser module according to the present invention, an optical coupler that couples a signal light with a pump light, and an amplification optical fiber that amplifies a light based on a Raman amplification.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of a semiconductor laser device, a semiconductor laser module, and an optical fiber amplifier using the semiconductor laser module according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Identical or similar parts are assigned identical or similar reference numerals or symbols. It should be noted that the drawings are schematic, and the relationship between the thickness and the width of a layer, and ratios of thickness of layers are different from actual ones. Further, not all parts in the drawings are drawn to scale.

A semiconductor laser device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.FIG. 1is a front cross-section showing a structure of the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a cross-section of the semiconductor laser device shown inFIG. 1cut along the line A—A.FIG. 3is a cross-section of the semiconductor laser device shown inFIG. 1cut along the line B—B.

As shown inFIG. 1, the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment has an n-InP clad layer2deposited on an n-InP substrate1. On the A—A line shown inFIG. 1, a lower GRIN-SCH (Graded Index-Separate Confinement Heterostructure) layer3a, an active layer4a, and an upper GRIN-SCH layer5aare deposited in a mesa shape. These will be collectively called a stripe15. Similarly, on the B—B line, a lower GRIN-SCH layer3b, an active layer4b, and an upper GRIN-SCH layer5bare deposited in a mesa shape. These will be collectively called a stripe16. The stripe15and the stripe16are separated by a space between them. At the portions excluding the stripe15and the stripe16, a p-InP blocking layer9and an n-InP blocking layer10are deposited sequentially on the n-InP clad layer2to form a structure such that an injection current flows only into the stripe15and the stripe16. Further a p-InP clad layer6is deposited on the upper GRIN-SCH layers5aand5band the n-InP blocking layer10. A p-InGaAsP contact layer7and p-side electrode are sequentially deposited on the p-InP clad layer6. An n-side electrode11is disposed on the lower surface of the n-InP substrate1.

The n-InP clad layer2achieves a function of a buffer layer as well as that of a clad layer. The semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment has a double-hetero structure formed by sandwiching the stripe15and the stripe16with the n-InP clad layer2and p-InP clad layer6, which enables effective confinement of carriers and high light-emission efficiency.

The active layers4aand4bemploy, for example, a compressive strain quantum well structure of a lattice mismatching ratio within a range of 0.5% to 1.5% to the n-InP substrate1. This structure is advantageous from the viewpoint of a high output. If the strain quantum well structure employs a strain compensation structure having a barrier layer formed with a tensile stain opposite to a strain of the well layer, it is possible to equivalently meet a lattice matching condition. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an upper limit to a lattice mismatching ratio of the well layer. In this case, a compressive quantum well having five wells and a lattice mismatching ratio of 1% is used.

The stripe15consists of a deposited structure of the lower GRIN-SCH layer3a, the active layer4a, and the upper GRIN-SCH layer5a, thereby forming what is called a GRIN-SCH-MQW (Graded Index-Separate Confinement Heterostructure-Multiple Quantum Well) active layer. Based on this structure, it becomes possible to confine carriers more effectively. Therefore, combined with the double-hetero structure, the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment has high light emission efficiency. This similarly applies to the stripe16.as well.

FIG. 2shows the structure of the cross-section of the semiconductor laser device cut along the line A—A. A low reflection film13is disposed on the entire surface of an emission-side end surface (the right-side end surface inFIG. 2), and a high reflection film12is disposed on the entire surface of a reflection-side end surface (the left-side end surface inFIG. 2). A p-side electrode8ais disposed on the entire surface of the p-InGaAsP contact layer7.

The high reflection film12has a light reflectivity of 80% or above, preferably 98% or above. On the other hand, the low reflection film consists of a film structure of a low reflectivity, having a light reflectivity of not more than 5%, preferably about 1%.

FIG. 3shows the structure of the semiconductor laser device appearing in the cross-section cut along the line B—B. The low reflection film13is disposed on the emission-side end surface, and the high reflection film12is disposed on the reflection-side end surface, in a similar manner to the structure appearing in the A—A cross-section. A p-side electrode8bis disposed on the surface of the p-InGaAsP contact layer7excluding a portion of this surface. Each stripe shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3has a resonator length of 800 μm to 3200 μm.

In the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment, a current is injected from the p-side electrode8, and a light-emission recombination of carriers occurs in the stripe15and the stripe16. A light generated in this process is amplified in a resonator formed by the high reflection film12and the low reflection film13through a stimulated emission, and a laser beam is emitted from the low reflection film13.

In the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment, effective resonator lengths are different for the stripe15and the stripe16. That is, since the p-side electrode8aof the stripe15is disposed on the whole surface of the p-InGaAsP contact layer7as shown inFIG. 2, while the p-side electrode8bof the stripe16is disposed only on a part of and not on the entire surface of the p-InGaAsP contact layer7as shown inFIG. 3, the current injected to carry out a laser oscillation flows only to the portion below the p-side electrode8bin the stripe16, and not to the portion below the region where p-side electrode8bis not present.

A refractive index of a semiconductor single-crystal varies based on a current that flows inside the single-crystal. Therefore, in the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment, the refractive index of the semiconductor single-crystal that constitutes the stripe15and the stripe16varies because of the existence of the injection current at the time of laser oscillation.

In the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment, the injection current flows into the whole of the stripe15, but does not flow into a portion of the stripe16. Therefore, the refractive index varies over the whole length of the semiconductor single crystal that constitutes the stripe15. However, in the stripe16, there occurs no variation in the refractive index in the portion where no current flows. Consequently, the optical path length, taking into account the refractive index, are different between the stripe15and the stripe16, although their physical resonator lengths are the same. Since the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelength and their spacing of the semiconductor laser device are determined based on an effective resonator length that takes into account the refractive index, the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelength and the oscillation longitudinal mode spacing of laser beams that are oscillated from the stripe15and the stripe16of the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment are different correspondingly to the difference in the optical path lengths.

A semiconductor laser device having a conventional W stripe structure is structured in such a way that the physical resonator lengths of the stripes are equal, and the injection current flows uniformly into each stripe. Therefore, the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelengths of the laser beams emitted from the stripes are completely identical. On the other hand, in the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment, the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelength of the laser beam emitted from the stripe15and the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelength of the laser beam emitted from the stripe16are different from each other, though slightly. Hence, in the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment, unlike in the semiconductor laser device having a conventional W stripe structure, the overlapping of the two oscillation longitudinal modes is suppressed and the DOP can be reduced.

In the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment, the stripe15and the stripe16have the same structure except for p-side electrodes8aand8b. Therefore, the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment is easy to manufacture. That is, the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be manufactured by the manufacturing method which differs from that of the conventional semiconductor laser device only in that the electrode is not formed in the area where the non-current-injection area14is to be provided, with the other processes in the method being completely identical to the conventional ones. Therefore, it is another advantage of the semiconductor laser device according to the present invention that it can be easily manufactured using a conventional manufacturing apparatus. Note that a contact layer in the non-current-injection area14should preferably be eliminated in order to ensure the prevention of diffusion of current to this area.

A modification of the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment will be explained next.FIG. 4is a front cross-section showing a structure of a modification of the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment. In this modification, a separation groove21is formed between the stripe15and the stripe16, which reaches to a depth of the n-InP contact layer2from the p-side electrode8. The stripe15and the stripe16can be electrically separated by covering the surface of the separation groove21with an insulation film20. With this semiconductor laser device used as a pump light source for the Raman amplifier, the injection current supplied to the two stripes can be independently controlled so that it becomes much easier to reduce the DOP of the polarization-combined laser beam.

While in the first embodiment, the explanation has been given to the semiconductor laser device of the Fabry-Perot type, it is also possible to apply the above structure to a semiconductor laser device that has a wavelength selecting means like DFB or DBR. Such type of semiconductor laser device, if used as a pump light source for the Raman amplifier, would make it possible to obtain an optical output of stabilized oscillation wavelength even without a fiber grating for wavelength selection.

Further, in the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment, a non-current-injection area14is provided only in the stripe16. However, the non-current-injection area14may be provided in both the stripe15and the stripe16. In this case, by providing different surface areas of the non-current-injection area in the two stripes, the amount of injected current to the stripe15and the stripe16can be made different from each other, whereby it is possible to obtain laser beams of different wavelengths.

Next, a semiconductor laser device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In a semiconductor laser device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, parts that are assigned the same reference numerals or symbols as those in the first embodiment have similar structures and functions to those of the corresponding parts of the first embodiment. Therefore, their explanation will be omitted.

FIG. 5is a front cross-section showing a structure of a semiconductor laser device according to the second embodiment. As shown inFIG. 5, in the semiconductor laser device according to the second embodiment, a stripe18ahas a p-InP spacer layer17adeposited on an upper GRIN-SCH layer5a, and a stripe18bhas a p-InP spacer layer17bdeposited on an upper GRIN-SCH layer5b.

FIG. 6Ais a cross-section of the semiconductor laser device shown inFIG. 5cut along the line A—A. As shown in this drawing, the semiconductor laser device according to the second embodiment has a structure in which a diffraction grating23ais disposed in a part of the area within the p-InP spacer layer17a.FIG. 6Bis a cross-section of the semiconductor laser device shown inFIG. 5cut along the line B—B, which shows that a diffraction grating23bis disposed in a part of the area within the p-InP spacer layer17b.

These diffraction grating23aand23bare made of p-InGaAsP. Each diffraction grating has a film thickness of 20 nm, and a length of 50 μm in a laser emission direction (i.e. the lateral direction inFIG. 6AandFIG. 6B). Further, each diffraction grating has a single period of 220 nm. The diffraction gratings23aand23bbeing constituted as such, they can select a laser beam that has a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes having a center wavelength of 1480 nm.

As shown inFIG. 6A, the stripe18ahas a p-side electrode8adisposed over the whole surface of a p-InGaAsP contact layer7. As shown inFIG. 6B, the stripe18bhas a p-side electrode8bdisposed on a portion on the p-InGaAsP contact layer7, thereby forming a non-current-injection area14on the area on which the p-side electrode8bis not disposed. A low reflection film is made to have a light reflectivity of not more than 1%, preferably not more than 0.01% so that the effect of reflection of Fabry Perot modes at the emission end surface is suppressed.

Characteristics of the second embodiment based on the provision of the diffraction gratings23aand23bwill be explained below with reference toFIG. 7andFIG. 8. To simplify the explanation, in the semiconductor laser device according to the second embodiment, the injection current is assumed to flow only to the stripe18a.

The semiconductor laser device in the second embodiment is assumed to be used as an pump light source for the Raman amplifier, and has an oscillation wavelength λ of 1100 nm to 1550 nm, and a resonator length L from 800 μm to 3200 μm inclusive. In general, a mode spacing Δλ of longitudinal modes generated within the resonator of the semiconductor laser device can be expressed by the following equation,
Δλ=λo2/(2n L)  (1)
where “n” is an effective refractive index. If oscillation wavelength λo is assumed to be 1480 nm and the effective refractive index to be 3.5, the mode spacing Δλ of the longitudinal modes is about 0.39 nm for the case of resonator length L being 800 μm, and about 0.1 nm for the case of resonator length L being 3200 μm. In other words, the larger the resonator length, the shorter the mode spacing Δλ of the longitudinal mode may become, and the more difficult it may become for a selection condition to be met that allows the laser beam to oscillate in a single longitudinal mode.

On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the diffraction grating23aselects a longitudinal mode based on a Bragg wavelength thereof. The selection wavelength characteristic of the diffraction grating23ais expressed as an oscillation wavelength spectrum23shown inFIG. 7.

As shown inFIG. 7, in the second embodiment, a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes is made to exist in a wavelength selection characteristic expressed in terms of a half width Δλh of the oscillation wavelength spectrum30of the semiconductor laser device having the diffraction grating. The conventional DFB (Distributed-Feedback) semiconductor laser device has been difficult to oscillate in single longitudinal mode if the resonator length L is set to not less than 800 μm. Therefore, a semiconductor laser device having such a resonator length L has not been used. The semiconductor laser device of the second embodiment, however, positively adopts a resonator length not less than 800 μm so that it emits a laser beam including a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes within the half-width Δλh of the oscillation wavelength spectrum. InFIG. 7, there are three oscillation longitudinal modes31to33included in the half width Δλh of the oscillation wavelength spectrum.

The use of such laser beam having a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes makes it possible to obtain a high laser output overall, with the intensity of individual oscillation longitudinal mode being suppressed as compared with the case of a laser beam oscillating in single longitudinal mode. For instance, the semiconductor laser device according to the second embodiment has an oscillation spectrum shown inFIG. 8B, where a high laser output is achieved overall with reduced intensity of individual longitudinal mode. On the other hand,FIG. 8Ashows an oscillation spectrum of a semiconductor laser device that oscillates in a single longitudinal mode to obtain the same laser output, where the longitudinal mode has a larger intensity.

That is, when the semiconductor laser device is used as a pump light source for the Raman amplifier, it is preferable to increase a pumping optical output power in order to increase a Raman gain. However, if the oscillation longitudinal mode is intense, noise is generated to a greater extent through stimulated Brillouin scattering. Since the stimulated Brillouin scattering occurs when the oscillation longitudinal mode intensity exceeds the threshold Pth, Brillouin scattering can be suppressed by including a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes within the laser beam, while keeping overall laser output, and thereby suppressing the intensity of each oscillation longitudinal mode below the threshold Pth of stimulated Brillouin scattering, as shown inFIG. 8B. In this way, a high Raman gain can be obtained.

From the above viewpoint, it is preferable that a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes is included in the half-width Δλh of the oscillation wavelength spectrum30.

When the oscillation wavelength spectral width is excessively large, the coupling loss in the wavelength combining coupler increases. In addition, the movement of the wavelength within the oscillation spectral width could be a cause of fluctuation in noise and gain. For this reason, the half-width Δλh of the oscillation wavelength spectrum30should be not more than 3 nm, or more preferably, not more than 2 nm.

The wavelength interval (mode spacing) Δλ between the oscillation longitudinal modes31to33is 0.1 nm or higher. This is because in case of using the semiconductor laser device as a pumping light source for the Raman amplifier, the stimulated Brillouin scattering is more likely to occur if the mode spacing Δλ is not more than 0.1 nm. As a result, using the above-described equation of the mode spacing Δλ, the resonator length L is preferably not more than 3200 μm.

Further, since the conventional semiconductor laser device has been used in a semiconductor laser module with a fiber grating, the resonance between the fiber grating and the light reflection surface has caused an increase in relative intensity noise (RIN) and hampered a stable Raman amplification. However, since the semiconductor laser device shown in the second embodiment is not equipped with a fiber grating so that a laser beam emitted from the low reflection film13is directly used as an pump light source for the Raman amplifier, it is possible to reduce the relative intensity noise, and consequently, fluctuations in Raman gain. Therefore, it is possible to carry out a stable Raman amplification.

In addition to the above-explained many advantages that exists in providing the diffraction grating, the semiconductor laser device according to the second embodiment, has another advantage which arises from combination with the structures of the p-side electrodes8aand8b.

In other words, since the semiconductor laser device according to the second embodiment has non-current injection areas14like those in the first embodiment, the wavelength of each oscillation longitudinal mode of the laser beam emitted from the stripe18aand the wavelength of each oscillation longitudinal mode of the laser beam emitted from the stripe18bare different from each other. Therefore, it is possible to suppress overlapping of the oscillation longitudinal modes, resulting in sufficient reduction of DOP, when such two laser beams are polarization-combined. It is also possible, similarly to the first embodiment, to simplify the manufacturing process of the semiconductor laser device and to make the device compact, as compared with the case where laser beams from two distinct semiconductor laser devices are polarization-combined.

Next, a semiconductor laser device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The semiconductor laser device according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of stripe structures on a single semiconductor substrate. An oscillation longitudinal mode wavelength of a laser beam emitted by each stripe is made different by varying the width of each stripe in the lateral direction. This is explained in more detail with reference toFIG. 9.

The semiconductor laser device according to the third embodiment has a stripe50aand a stripe50bon a single n-InP substrate1. The stripe50aincludes a lower GRIN-SCH layer46a, an active layer47a, an upper GRIN-SCH layer48a, and a p-InP spacer layer49adeposited sequentially. The stripe50bincludes a lower GRIN-SCH layer46b, an active layer47b, an upper GRIN-SCH layer48b, and a p-InP spacer layer49bdeposited sequentially. The width La of the stripe50ain lateral direction is greater than the width Lb of the stripe50bin lateral direction. The p-InP spacer layer49aand49beach includes, similar to the second embodiment, a diffraction grating that selects a laser beam having a specific center wavelength and a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes. Parts that are identical or similar to those in the first embodiment or second embodiment are assigned identical or similar reference numerals or symbols and have identical or similar functions.

In the semiconductor laser device according to the third embodiment, the laser beam emitted by each stripe is caused to have a different oscillation longitudinal mode wavelength by varying the width of each stripe in lateral direction. Below is explained the reason for the difference in the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelength of the laser beam emitted by each stripe.

In general, in a semiconductor laser device, heat produced in the active layer due to a light non-emission recombination current etc. acts to raise the temperature around the active layer, giving an adverse effect on the characteristic of the emitted laser beam. To keep the temperature of the active layer from rising excessively, the semiconductor laser device is fixed junction down on a heat sink, making the heat sink to come in contact with the upper electrode, thereby dissipating the heat produced.

For the same reason, the semiconductor laser device according to the third embodiment is fixed junction down as well, with a p-side electrode8being in contact with the heat sink. Consequently, the heat produced in the active layer47aduring laser oscillation is released into the heat sink through the upper GRIN-SCH layer48a, the p-InP spacer layer49a, and a p-InP clad layer6. Similarly, the heat produced in the active layer47bis released into the heat sink through the upper GRIN-SCH layer48b, the p-InP spacer layer49band the p-InP clad layer6. In this way, the heat produced in the active layers47aand47bare released to the outside through the stripes50a, and50b, respectively and the area above the stripes50aand50b, all of which collectively function as a thermal conduction channel.

The thermal conduction efficiency, in general, proportionally increases with the cross-sectional area of the thermal conduction channel. In the third embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the stripes50aand50bdiffer because of the difference in their widths La and Lb. Therefore, the respective thermal conduction efficiencies of the stripe50aand the stripe50bare different. Consequently, during laser oscillation, the temperature in the vicinity of the active layer47aand the temperature in the vicinity of the active layer47bare different.

It is well known that the refractive index of the semiconductor single-crystals, that constitute the stripes50aand50b, depends on the temperature. And since the wavelength of each oscillation longitudinal mode and the oscillation longitudinal mode spacing are dependent on the optical path length determined by taking into account the refractive index, they are different between the laser beam emitted from the stripe50aand the laser beam emitted from the stripe50b. When such two laser beams are polarization-combined, the overlapping of the two oscillation longitudinal modes is suppressed. Therefore, the DOP of the combined beam can be sufficiently reduced.

Another advantage is that in the third embodiment an electrical resistance to the injected current also varies due to the difference in the lateral width. That is, since the electrical resistance is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area, the stripes50aand50b, which have different widths, have different value of electrical resistance from each other. Therefore, the electric current flowing into the active layer47aand the electric current flowing into the active layer47bare different, which causes not only the wavelength of each oscillation longitudinal mode to be different between the two stripes based on the similar reason to the first embodiment, but also the amount of heat produced in the active layers47aand47bto be different from each other, leading to different temperatures of the active layers47aand47band different wavelengths of oscillation longitudinal modes between the two stripes.

While each stripe has a diffraction grating for wavelength selection in the third embodiment, it is also possible to use Fabry-Perot resonators for wavelength selection, as in the first embodiment.

Further, in the third embodiment, the semiconductor laser device is fixed p-side down on the heat sink. However, the semiconductor laser device may be fixed on the heat sink so that an n-side electrode11comes in contact with the heat sink. In this case too, the heat produced in the active layers47aand47bis released to the heat sink through stripes50aand50b, respectively, and the area below the stripes50aand50b, which collectively act as a thermal conduction channel. Therefore, by having different widths La and Lb, the thermal conduction efficiencies can be different between the stripes50aand50b. As a result, the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelengths of the laser beams emitted by the stripes50aand50bare different from each other. Consequently, the DOP can be reduced.

Next, a modification of the semiconductor laser device according to the third embodiment will be described below.FIG. 10is a cross-section showing a structure of the modification of the semiconductor laser device. As shown inFIG. 10, in semiconductor laser device according to the modification, the thermal conduction efficiency is made to differ by varying a thickness of a p-InP clad layer51.

In the third embodiment, the thermal conduction efficiency is made to differ by varying the cross-sectional areas of the thermal conduction channels. However, the thermal conduction efficiency can be made to differ also by varying the lengths of the thermal conduction channels, in case of equal cross sectional areas. By varying the thickness of the p-InP clad layer51disposed above each stripe, the temperature around the active layers47aand47bduring laser oscillation can be made to differ, and consequently, the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelengths can be different, resulting in reduction of DOP.

In the modification, the variation in the length of the thermal conduction channel can be achieved not only by varying the thickness of the p-InP clad layer51but also by varying those of the p-InP spacer layers49aand49b. Alternatively, it is possible to cause the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelengths to be different, to thereby reduce the DOP, as long as the structure is such that the distances from the active layers47aand47bto the heat sink are different in the two stripes.

Next, a semiconductor laser device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the semiconductor laser device according to the fourth embodiment, in each stripe is formed a diffraction grating that selects a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes and the structure of diffraction gratings is different from one another so that each diffraction grating selects a different center wavelength. The fourth embodiment is explained below with reference toFIG. 11.

FIG. 11AandFIG. 11Bare a side cross-sections that show the structure of the semiconductor laser device according to the fourth embodiment (the front cross-section is the same asFIG. 5and hence is omitted).FIG. 11Aillustrates a stripe52athat includes a diffraction grating53a.FIG. 11Billustrates a stripe52bthat includes a diffraction grating53b. The diffraction gratings53aand53bhave different periods so that the center wavelength selected by the diffraction grating53ais different from the center wavelength selected by the diffraction grating53b. In the present embodiment, based on the above structure, it is possible to reduce the DOP of a polarization-combined laser beam, the reason for which is explained below.

First, the inventors of the present invention measured the relation between a wavelength difference Δλp, which is a difference of a peak wavelength (a wavelength of the oscillation longitudinal mode of maximum intensity amongst plural oscillation longitudinal modes that constitute an oscillation wavelength spectrum) of a laser beam emitted from each stripe, and the DOP.

To be more specific, orthogonally polarization-combined laser beams, each beam emitted by each one of two semiconductor laser devices having a single stripe, were measured for DOP with changing wavelength difference Δλp. The two semiconductor laser devices used for the purpose of measurement each had a diffraction grating in the vicinity of its active layer and emitted a laser beam having a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes arranged with a spacing of 0.2 nm therebetween.

The reason why a semiconductor laser device with a W stripe structure was not used for measurement was because the peak wavelength of each laser beam needed to be easily varied. Instead, to be more specific, each of the semiconductor laser device bearing a single stripe structure was mounted on a separate temperature-adjusting module so as to vary the temperature of the active layer and thereby to vary the peak wavelength. The tendency of DOP of the combined light versus changing wavelength difference Δλp, represented by the result of measurement obtained for two separate semiconductor laser devices bearing a single stripe structure, applies equally to a semiconductor laser device bearing a W stripe structure whose peak wavelengths of the laser beams emitted from the two stripes are different from each other.

FIG. 12is a graph showing the result of the measurement. In the graph shown inFIG. 12, the horizontal axis indicates the wavelength difference Δλp and the vertical axis indicates DOP. The curve I1shows a variation of the DOP over a short cycle, while the curve I2shows a variation of the DOP over a long cycle. As shown by the curve I1, the DOP fluctuates cyclically for every 0.2 nm of the wavelength difference Δλp. In addition, the DOP tends to decrease as the wavelength difference Δλp increases over the long cycle, as shown by curve I2.

From the curve I2it can be seen that if the wavelength difference Δλp is not less than 0.1 nm, the DOP can be suppressed to 10% or lower, and if the wavelength difference Δλp is not less than 0.8 nm, the DOP can be suppressed to 5% or lower. Thus, the DOP can be reduced by increasing the wavelength difference Δλp. When the semiconductor laser device is used as a pump light source of Raman amplifiers, a stable gain can be obtained irrespective of the polarization direction of the signal light.

Meanwhile, from the curve I1it is evident that though the DOP decreases when the wavelength difference Δλp is 0.01 nm or more, it hits a maximum value for every 0.2 nm change of the wavelength difference Δλp.

The reason for the cyclical behavior of DOP is as follows. The two semiconductor laser devices used in the present measurement emit laser beams each having a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes with the longitudinal mode spacing (Δλ: Expression 1) of 0.2 nm, based on their respective diffraction gratings. If the wavelength difference Δλp of such two laser beams is 0.2 nm, then the relation between the two laser beams are shown inFIG. 14, where the oscillation longitudinal modes of the two laser beams overlap, even though the peak wavelengths of their oscillation spectrums are different from each other. In such a situation, the DOP does not reduce sufficiently. However, as the wavelength difference Δλp increases, the intensity difference of the overlapping oscillation longitudinal modes increases and the number of oscillation longitudinal modes decreases. Therefore, the DOP tends to decrease over a long cycle.

Thus, in the structure according to first to third embodiments, the wavelengths of the oscillation longitudinal modes of the two laser beams are slightly shifted with respect to each other (by 0.01 nm to 0.2 nm), whereby the DOP can be suppressed. In other words, the oscillation longitudinal modes of the two laser beams appear as shown inFIG. 15, where the oscillation longitudinal mode of one laser beam is interspersed between two adjacent oscillation longitudinal modes of the other laser beam. Thus, there is no overlapping of the two oscillation longitudinal modes. Consequently, it is possible to reduce DOP of the orthogonally polarization-combined laser beam.

However, in the fourth embodiment, the center wavelength selected by the diffraction gratings53aand53bare made as different as possible whereby the DOP of the combined light is reduced irrespective of whether the oscillation longitudinal modes of the two stripes overlap or not, unlike in the first to third embodiments in which the DOP of the combined light is reduced by preventing the overlapping of the oscillation longitudinal modes, which is attained through changing the electrode structure or layer structure of the semiconductor laser device.

The conditions that the diffraction gratings53aand53bmust meet in order to select different center wavelengths will be examined with reference toFIG. 13A.FIG. 13Aillustrates an instance in which the oscillation longitudinal mode of maximum intensity (with peak wavelength λp1) of the first laser beam is on the short wavelength side with respect to the center wavelength λG1of the diffraction grating.53aformed in the first stripe structure52a, and the oscillation longitudinal mode of maximum intensity (with peak wavelength λp2) of the second laser beam is on the long wavelength side with respect to the center wavelength λG2of the diffraction grating53bformed in the second stripe structure52b.

According to the curve I2inFIG. 12, a DOP can be reduced at least to 10% or less if the wavelength difference Δλp (=λp1−λp2) is not less than half of the oscillation longitudinal mode spacing Δλ (=0.2 nm) (that is, not less than 0.1 nm). Referring toFIG. 13A, the difference ΔλG(=λG1−λG2) between the center wavelengths of the diffraction gratings required for the DOP of the combined light to be 10% or lower irrespective of whether the oscillation longitudinal modes of the laser beams emitted from the two stripes overlap or not, can be calculated as given below:
ΔλG≧Δλ/2+Δλ/2+Δλ/2=1.5Δλ  (2)

Similarly, according to the curve I2inFIG. 12, a DOP can be reduced at least to 5% or less if the wavelength difference Δλp is not less than four times the oscillation longitudinal mode spacing Δλ (that is, not less than 0.8 nm). Referring toFIG. 13A, the difference ΔλGbetween the center wavelengths of the diffraction gratings required for the DOP of the combined light to be 5% or lower irrespective of whether the oscillation longitudinal modes of the laser beams emitted from the two stripes overlap or not, can be calculated as given below:
ΔλG≧Δλ/2+Δλ/2+4Δλ=5Δλ  (3)

Thus, if the diffraction gratings are designed such that the difference ΔλGbetween the center wavelengths selected by the diffraction gratings formed in the two stripes is 1.5 times, preferably 5 times the oscillation longitudinal mode spacing Δλ of the laser beams, the DOP can be reduced to either 10% or 5% respectively, irrespective of whether the oscillation longitudinal modes overlap or not.

Further, referring toFIG. 13A, the difference ΔλGbetween the center wavelengths can be reduced when the peak wavelength is more or less equal to the center wavelength, that is, when λp1≈λG1and λp2≈λG2. In this case, the wavelength difference Δλp is not less than half of the oscillation longitudinal mode spacing Δλ when
ΔλG≈Δλp≧Δλ/2  (4)
If ΔλG=Δλp, then ΔλG≧Δλ/2, then according to the curve I2inFIG. 12, the DOP reduces to 10% or lower. Even if ΔλGand Δλp are only more or less the same and do not match exactly, the DOP can be reduced to about 10%. InFIG. 13AandFIG. 13B, if the two stripes emit laser beams with different oscillation longitudinal modes, the DOP of the combined light can be reduced by applying any one of oscillation longitudinal mode spacing Δλ in expressions (2) through (4).

Another method for determining the center wavelength of the diffraction grating of each stripe so that the DOP of the combined light can be reduced is to evade overlapping of the oscillation wavelength spectrums54and55of two laser beams on their portion above a specific power, as shown inFIG. 16. To be more specific, the center wavelength difference of the diffraction gratings ΔλGshould be set such that the portion of the oscillation wavelength spectrums54and55having an intensity difference not more than 3 dB with respect to the maximum intensities of the laser beams do not cross each other. In the schematic diagram shown inFIG. 16, even though the oscillation longitudinal mode56abelonging to the oscillation wavelength spectrum54and the oscillation longitudinal mode57abelonging to the oscillation wavelength spectrum55are overlapping, the overlapping is negligible enough to keep DOP from increasing to a large extent, since the difference between the intensity of the oscillation longitudinal mode57aand the maximum intensity of the laser beam is more than 3 dB. For similar reasons, even though the oscillation longitudinal mode57bbelonging to the oscillation wavelength spectrum55and the oscillation longitudinal mode56bbelonging to the oscillation wavelength spectrum54are overlapping. The overlapping has negligible influence on DOP. In order to reduce the DOP further, it is preferable to set the center wavelength difference ΔλGsuch that the oscillation wavelength spectrums54and55do not cross in the range in which the intensity difference with respect to the maximum intensity of the laser beams is not more than 10 dB.

In this way, it is possible to realize a semiconductor laser device in which the DOP of the polarization-combined laser beam can be effectively reduced, by setting the wavelength difference ΔλGto be 1.5 times, preferably 5 times, the oscillation longitudinal mode spacing Δλ, or by setting the wavelength difference ΔλGsuch that the oscillation wavelength spectrums do not cross in the range in which the intensity ratio to the maximum is not more than a predetermined value, specifically 3 dB, or preferably 10 dB.

This method of setting the wavelength difference Δλp is not limited to the semiconductor laser beam source formed from a semiconductor laser device having a W stripe structure, but is applicable to the semiconductor laser beam source formed from two separate semiconductor laser devices which has a stripe each on two different substrates. In the latter case as well, the DOP of the polarization-combined beams can be effectively reduced by setting the wavelength difference Δλp as described above. To be more specific, the structures shown inFIG. 17AandFIG. 17Bcan be used. As shown inFIG. 17(a), an pump light source with reduced DOP can be fabricated by a semiconductor laser beam source59athat includes two semiconductor laser devices58aand58beach having a single stripe, which have a wavelength difference of Δλp in the range described above. The laser beams emitted from the two semiconductor laser devices58aand58bare orthogonally polarization-combined by a polarization-combining coupler60.

Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 17B, laser beams emitted from two single stripe semiconductor laser devices58aand58bthat form the semiconductor laser beam source59bcan be directed into the polarization-combining coupler (cube beam splitter)62in such a way that the two laser beams are orthogonal to each other. The laser beam which is emitted from the single stripe semiconductor laser device58aand collimated by a lens61aand the laser beam which is emitted from the single stripe semiconductor laser device58b, collimated by a lens61b, and passed through a half-wave plate61c, are orthogonally polarization-combined by the polarization-combining coupler62. Thus, a light with reduced DOP is input into a transmission optical fiber64. In the semiconductor laser beam source shown inFIG. 17AandFIG. 17B, the two laser beams can be made to have a wavelength difference described above by appropriately adjusting the temperature of each semiconductor laser device.

In the semiconductor laser device having a W stripe structure and in the beam source having the single stripe semiconductor laser devices shown inFIG. 17AandFIG. 17B, the DOP of the combined light can be reduced by setting the wavelength of the two laser beam between the cyclical peak of the DOP shown inFIG. 12through a fine-tuning of the wavelength of each laser beam. For instance, according to the trend of the curve I1ofFIG. 12, the DOP of the combined light can be lowered by making the wavelength difference of the oscillation longitudinal modes of the laser beams emitted from the two semiconductor light sources not less than 0.01 nm, preferably not less than 0.1 nm. Here, the above wavelength difference may be made on all the oscillation longitudinal modes. However, it may be made only on the oscillation longitudinal modes of a specific intensity or higher. This is because the oscillation longitudinal modes of higher intensity contribute more to reducing DOP of the combined light. To be more specific, the DOP of the combined light can be reduced by making the above-described wavelength difference on the oscillation longitudinal modes of intensity ratio not more than 3 dB, preferably not more than 10 dB, to the peak intensity.

In addition, in order to avoid overlapping of the oscillation longitudinal mode of one laser beam with that of the other laser beam, the wavelength difference Δλp of the two semiconductor laser beam source may be adjusted as follows:
Δλp=(Δλ/2)×(2n−1)  (5)
where Δλ is the oscillation longitudinal mode spacing between two adjoining oscillation longitudinal modes and n is a natural number. In the measurement done to obtainFIG. 12, since the oscillation longitudinal mode spacing Δλ of the semiconductor laser beam source is 0.2 nm, the DOP can be reduced if the wavelength difference becomes, 0.1 nm, 0.3 nm, 0.5 nm, etc, according to the equation (5). When this is the case, the oscillation longitudinal modes of one laser beam are interspersed between the oscillation longitudinal modes of the other laser beam, as shown inFIG. 15. Thus, the overlapping of the oscillation longitudinal modes of the two laser beams is prevented. Consequently, the DOP of the orthogonally polarization-combined laser light can be reduced.

Next, the conditions required for suppressing the beat noise will be examined. If the wavelengths of the oscillation longitudinal modes of the laser beams that are polarization-combined are not sufficiently apart from each other, a noise will appear on a frequency corresponding to the frequency difference between the two oscillation longitudinal modes, due to a polarization mixing occurred over a long distance transmitted, even when the wavelength difference Δλp is set as described above.

Even when such beat noise does occur, at least its adverse effect can be avoided if it can be made to occur outside the transmission band of the optical transmission system in which the semiconductor laser device is used. This is because the beat noise that appears outside the transmission band will not be a cause of signal noise that occurs during Raman amplification.

To be more specific, the wavelength difference Δλp should be set in the following manner. As shown inFIG. 18, the center wavelengths Δλp1and Δλp2should be set such that the frequency difference between the oscillation longitudinal mode65belonging to the laser beam emitted from the first stripe of a center wavelength λp1, and having maximum wavelength among the plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes of intensity not more than 10 dB below maximum intensity of the emitted laser beam, and the oscillation longitudinal mode66belonging to the laser beam emitted from the second stripe of a center wavelength λp2(>λp1), and having minimum wavelength among the plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes of intensity not more than 10 dB below maximum intensity of the emitted laser beam, should be greater than the electrical band width of the optical transmission system in which the semiconductor laser device is used. In this way, even if the polarization mixing occurs during long-distance transmission of the laser beam over the optical fiber, the beat noise may occur only in a frequency range outside the transmission band of the transmission system. Consequently, adding of noise on signal light can be prevented.

To be more specific, the diffraction grating of each stripe should be set in such a way that the wavelength difference Δλp is not less than a few nm to a few tens of nm (for example, not less than 3 nm). More preferably, the wavelength difference Δλp may be not less than 20 nm. For instance, the laser beam emitted from one stripe may have a center wavelength of 1430 nm, while the laser beam emitted from the other stripe may have a center wavelength of 1450 nm.

FIG. 19is a graph showing waveforms of the laser beams emitted by the two stripes when the wavelength difference Δλp is set to 1.5 nm. InFIG. 19, the laser beam emitted from the first stripe has a center wavelength of 1447.5 nm, and includes the oscillation longitudinal mode67whose wavelength is maximum among those longitudinal modes of intensity not more than 10 dB below the maximum intensity. Similarly, the laser beam emitted from the second stripe has a center wavelength of 1449 nm, and includes the oscillation longitudinal mode68whose wavelength is minimum among those longitudinal modes of intensity not more than 10 dB below the maximum intensity. The wavelength difference between the oscillation longitudinal mode67and the oscillation longitudinal mode68is 0.2625 nm, which translates to a frequency difference of 37.6 GHz. For this reason, if a semiconductor laser device having the waveform shown inFIG. 19is used as the pump light source in Raman amplification, the frequency of the beat noise, which occurs due to mixing of polarization modes during transmission over a long distance, becomes extremely high and therefore does not cause noise in the signal light.FIG. 20is a graph showing a relative intensity noise in the polarization-combined laser beams after transmitted over a long distance in an optical fiber. It is evident that the peak that appeared around 11 GHz inFIG. 27is absent inFIG. 20.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. A semiconductor laser module according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention uses the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 21is a side cross-section showing a structure of the semiconductor laser module according to the fifth embodiment, andFIG. 22is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a structure of the semiconductor laser module according to the fifth embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 21, the semiconductor laser module according to the fifth embodiment has a package71with the inside sealed hermetically, a semiconductor laser device72that emits a laser beam, a photodiode73, a first lens74, a prism75, a half-wave plate (a polarization rotating unit)76, and a polarization beam combiner (PBC)77, all of which are provided inside the package71, and an optical fiber78.

As shown inFIG. 22, the semiconductor laser device72has a stripe79and a stripe80that are formed in parallel on the same plane in a longitudinal direction with a distance between the stripes. The stripe79and the stripe80emit a first laser beam K1and a second laser beam K2from their respective end surfaces. InFIG. 22, K1and K2show tracks of centers of the beams emitted from the stripe79and the stripe80respectively. The beams propagate with a certain spread around the centers, as indicated by broken lines inFIG. 22. The distance between the stripe79and the stripe80is about 40 μm, for example.

The semiconductor laser device72is fixed to the upper surface of a chip carrier81. Alternatively, the semiconductor laser device72may be fixed to the upper surface of a heat sink (not shown), which further is fixed to the upper surface of the chip carrier81.

The photodiode73receives a laser beam for monitoring, emitted from a rear end surface72b(the left side end surface inFIG. 21) of the semiconductor laser device72. The photodiode73is fixed to a photodiode carrier82.

The first lens74receives the first laser beam K1and the second laser beam K2emitted from an end surface72aof a front end surface (the right side end surface inFIG. 21) of the semiconductor laser device72. The first lens74widens the distance between the first laser beam K1and the second laser beam K2and focuses the laser beams at different focal points (F1and F2).

The first lens74is held by a first lens holding member83. Preferably, the first lens74is positioned such that the optical axis of the first laser beam K1emitted from the stripe79and the optical axis of the second laser beam K2emitted from the stripe80are substantially symmetric with respect to the center axis of the first lens74. Based on this arrangement, both of the first laser beam K1and the second laser beam K2pass through areas near the center axis of the first lens74, where the aberrations are small. Therefore, there occurs no disturbance in the wave surfaces of the laser beams, and the optical coupling efficiency to the optical fiber78is high. As a result, it is possible to obtain a semiconductor laser module of a higher output. Preferably, the first lens74may be an aspheric lens of small spherical aberration, which can suppress the effect of spherical aberration and can augment thereby a coupling efficiency to the optical fiber78.

The prism75is disposed between the first lens74and the polarization beam combiner77such that the first laser beam K1and second laser beam K2are incident thereon and emitted therefrom along their mutually parallel optical axes. The prism75is made of an optical glass like BK7(boro-silicated crown glass) or the like. The optical axes of the first and second laser beams K1and K2, that propagate in non-parallel from the first lens74, are made parallel based on the refraction of the prism75. Therefore, it is easy to prepare the polarization beam combiner77that is disposed at the back of this prism75. At the same time, it is easy to downsize the polarization beam combiner77, and the semiconductor laser module thereby.

FIG. 23Ais a side view showing a structure of the prism75, andFIG. 23Bis a plan view of this prism. As shown inFIG. 23AandFIG. 23B, the prism75is about 1.0 mm in total length L1, and has a flat input surface75aand an output surface75binclined at a specific angle θ (θ lies in a range 3.2°±0.1°).

Out of the first laser beam K1and the second laser beam K2that have passed through the prism75, the half-wave plate76receives only the first laser beam K1, and rotates its polarization plane by 90°.

The polarization beam combiner77has a first port77aon which the first laser beam K1is incident, a second port77bon which the second laser beam K2is incident, and a third port77cfrom which the first laser beam K1incident on the first port77aand the second laser beam K2incident on the second port77bare combined and emerges. The polarization beam combiner77is a birefringent element that transmits the first laser beam K1to the third port77cas an ordinary ray, and transmits the second laser beam K2to the third port77cas an extraordinary ray. If the polarization beam combiner77is made of a birefringent element, TiO2(rutile), for example, may be used to get a large separation width between the laser beams, because of its large birefringence.

In the present embodiment, the prism75, the half-wave plate76, and the polarization beam combiner77are fixed to a common holder member84.FIG. 24Ais a plan cross-section showing the holder member84supporting the prism75, the half-wave plate76, and the polarization beam combiner77,FIG. 24Bis a side cross-section of this holder, andFIG. 24(c) is a front view of this holder. As shown inFIG. 24A,FIG. 24B, andFIG. 24C, the holder member84is prepared using a material to which YAG laser welding can be applied (for example, SUS403, 304, and the like). The holder member84has a total length L2of about 7.0 mm, and is substantially cylindrical in shape. The holder member84has an accommodating section84a, where the prism75, the half-wave plate76, and the polarization beam combiner77are fixed. The upper part and lower part of the holder member84are flat.

As shown inFIG. 24D, the holder member84is fixed between two upright walls of a second supporting member89bhaving substantially a U-shaped cross-section. The holder member84can be disposed between the upright walls, being rotated around a center axis C1. Based on the above structure, the position of the holder member84acan be easily adjusted along X, Y, and Z axes and around the center axis C1such that the first laser beam K1incident on the first port77aand the second laser beam K2incident on the second port77bof the polarization beam combiner77emerges from the third port77c.

The optical fiber78receives the laser beams emerging from the third port77cof the polarization beam combiner77, and transmits the laser beams to the outside.

A second lens86that optically couples the combined laser beams emerging from the third port77cof the polarization beam combiner77to the optical fiber78is disposed between the polarization beam combiner77and the optical fiber78. The first lens74is positioned such that the first laser beam K1and the second laser beam K2are focused at the focal points (F1and F2) between the first lens74and the second lens86. With this arrangement, a propagation distance L necessary for the first laser beam K1and the second laser beam K2., having passed through the first lens74, to be separated (i.e. a distance D′ has a sufficiently large value inFIG. 22) becomes short. Therefore, it becomes possible to shorten the length of the semiconductor laser module in the optical axial direction. As a result, it is possible to provide a highly reliable semiconductor laser module having excellent in time-lapse stability of the optical coupling between the semiconductor laser device72and the optical fiber78in a high-temperature environment. Besides, since the spot diameters of the laser beams between the first lens74and the second lens86are small, a compact optical component can be used, thereby making the laser module compact.

The chip carrier81to which the semiconductor laser device72is fixed, and the photodiode carrier82to which the photodiode73is fixed, are fixed by soldering onto a first base87having substantially an L-shaped cross section. Preferably, the first base87is made of a CuW alloy or the like in order to be efficient in radiation of the heat generated by the semiconductor laser device72.

The first lens holding member83to which the first lens74is fixed, and the holder member84to which the prism55, the half-wave plate76, and the polarization beam combiner77are fixed, are fixed onto a second base88by YAG laser welding via a first supporting member89aand a second supporting member89b, respectively. For this purpose, the second base88is prepared preferably using a stainless steel or the like of excellent weldability. Further, the second base88is fixed onto a flat section87aof the first base87by brazing.

A cooling unit90including a Peltier element is provided on the lower portion of the first base87. A thermistor90aprovided on the chip carrier81detects a rise in temperature due the heat generated by the semiconductor laser device72. The cooling unit90controls the temperature detected by the thermistor90ato a constant temperature. Based on this, it is possible to increase and stabilize the laser beams output from the semiconductor laser device72.

A window section71bon which the beam that has passed through the polarization beam combiner77is incident, is provided inside a flange section71aformed at a side of the package71. An intermediate member71dis fixed to the end surface of the flange section71a. A second lens holding member91holding the second lens86for focusing the laser beam is fixed to the inside of the intermediate member71dby YAG welding. A ferrule93holding the optical fiber78is fixed to the end of the second lens holding member through a metal slide ring92by YAG welding.

The operation of the semiconductor laser module according to the fifth embodiment will be explained below. The first laser beam K1and the second laser beam K2emitted from the front end surfaces72aof the stripe79and the stripe80of the semiconductor laser device.72, respectively, pass through the first lens74. Thereafter, the first laser beam K1and the second laser beam K2cross each other so that the distance between these beams is widened, and the beams are incident on the prism75. The distance (D) between the first laser beam K1and the second laser beam K2at the incidence on the prism55is about 480 μm. The first laser beam K1and the second laser beam K2are made parallel to each other by the prism75and emerge from the prism75(the distance between the beams at this point is about 500 μm). Thereafter, the first laser beam K1is incident on the half-wave plate76, where the polarization plane is rotated by 90°, and then is incident on the first port77aof the polarization beam combiner77, while the second laser beam K2is incident on the second port77bof the polarization beam combiner77.

The polarization beam combiner77combines the first laser beam K1incident on the first port77aand the second laser beam K2incident on the second port77b, and the combined beams emerge from the third port77c.

The second lens86focuses the laser beams emerging from the polarization beam combiner77. The focused beams are incident on the end surface of the optical fiber78supported by the ferrule93, and are transmitted to the outside.

On the other hand, the photodiode73receives, for monitoring, the laser beam emitted from the rear end surface72bof the semiconductor laser device72. The optical output etc. is adjusted by controlling the operating current to the semiconductor laser device72, based on the intensity of received light at the photodiode73.

In the semiconductor laser module according to the fifth embodiment, the semiconductor laser device72emits the first laser beam K1and the second laser beam K2, which are polarization-combined through the half-wave plate76which rotates the polarization plane of the first laser beam K1by 90°, and the polarization beam combiner77which polarization-combines the first laser beam K1and the second laser beam K2. Therefore, the laser beams of high output and with small degree of polarization can be obtained from the optical fiber78, and hence, it is possible to apply the above semiconductor laser module as for use an pump light source for the energy-doped optical fiber amplifier that requires a high output, and the Raman amplifier that additionally requires a low polarization dependency and wavelength stability.

In the fifth embodiment, the semiconductor laser module is structured using the semiconductor laser device according to the first embodiment. However, the structure is not limited to this. For example, a semiconductor laser device having a wavelength selecting unit like the DFB and the DBR, or the semiconductor laser device according to the second to fourth embodiments may be used. Rather, these semiconductor laser devices are preferable since they eliminate the need of fiber gratings when being used in optical fiber amplifiers.

Next, an optical fiber amplifier according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The optical fiber amplifier according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention carries out an optical amplification based on a Raman amplification.FIG. 25is a block diagram showing a configuration of the optical fiber amplifier according to the sixth embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 25, the optical fiber amplifier according to the sixth embodiment has an input section99to which an signal light is input, an output section100from which the signal light is output, an optical fiber (an amplification fiber)101that transmits the signal light between the input section99and the output section100, a pump light generating section102that generates an pump light, and a WDM coupler103that combines the pump light generated by the pump light generating section102and the signal light transmitted in the optical fiber (an amplification fiber)101. An optical isolator104is provided between the input section99and the WDM coupler103, and between the output section100and the WDM coupler103, respectively, allowing only the signal light in the direction from the input section99to the output section100.

The pump light generating section102includes two of semiconductor laser module M according to the fifth embodiment, emitting laser beams of different wavelength bands, and a WDM coupler105that combines the laser beams emitted from the semiconductor laser modules M.

The pump lights emitted from the semiconductor laser modules M are combined by the WDM coupler105, and constitute an output beam of the pump light generating section102.

The pump light generated by the pump light generating section102are coupled to the optical fiber101by the WDM coupler103. The signal light input from the input section99is combined with pump light in the optical fiber101, whereby the signal lights are Raman-amplified. The amplified signal lights pass through the WDM coupler103, and are output from the output section100.

In the optical fiber amplifier according to the sixth embodiment, it is possible to lower the DOP by using the semiconductor laser module according to the fifth embodiment, whereby, a stable and high-gain optical amplification can be carried out irrespective of the polarization direction of the signal light.

Further, according to the sixth embodiment, by adopting a W stripe structure in the semiconductor laser device, the optical fiber amplifier can be manufactured easily and can be downsized as well.

As explained above, according to the present invention, a semiconductor laser device having a W stripe structure has a non-current-injection area on the upper surface of one of the stripes. Therefore, the lengths of resonators on the two stripes are substantially different. Consequently, the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelengths and their spacing are different in the first laser beam and the second laser beam. As a result, the oscillation longitudinal modes of the two laser beams do not overlap which leads to reduction of the DOP.

According to the next invention, the surface areas of the non-current-injection areas in the first stripe and the second stripe differ. Consequently, the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelengths of the., laser beams from the two stripe structures are different, leading to reduction of the DOP.

According to the next invention, the non-current-injection area is formed as an area where the electrode is not disposed. Consequently, it is possible to form a non-current-injection area easily.

According to the next invention, the partially provided diffraction gratings enable to select laser beams having a specific center wavelength and including a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes. In this situation, by providing a non-current-injection area, it is possible to make the first stripe structure and the second stripe structure to oscillate in different longitudinal modes.

According to the next invention, the first diffraction grating is disposed in an area below the non-current-injection area. Therefore, there is no flow of current and a resultant variation of refractive index in the first diffraction grating, which reduces the variation of the center wavelength selected by the first diffraction grating.

According to the next invention, the temperature in the first active layer and the temperature in the second active layer are made to differ by varying the thermal conduction efficiency. Consequently, the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelength of the first laser beam and the oscillation longitudinal mode wavelength of the second laser beam can be different so that the overlapping of the two oscillation longitudinal modes are suppressed, whereby the DOP can be reduced.

According to the next invention, diffraction gratings provided enable to emit a first laser beam and a second laser beam having a specific center wavelength and including a plurality of oscillation longitudinal modes. In this situation, by varying thermal conduction efficiency in the first stripe structure and the second stripe structure, it is possible make the stripes to oscillate at different longitudinal mode wavelengths.

According to the next invention, the width of the stripe structure in the lateral direction is made to differ in the first stripe and the second stripe so that the thermal conduction efficiencies are different in the first stripe and the second stripe.

According to the next invention, the distance between the active layer and the electrode is made to differ in the first stripe and the second stripe so that the thermal conduction efficiencies are different in the first stripe and the second stripe.

According to the next invention, the distance between the active layer and the electrode is made to differ in the first stripe and the second stripe by varying the film thickness of the clad layer so that the thermal conduction efficiencies are different in the first stripe and the second stripe.

According to the next invention, the structures of the diffraction grating of the first stripe and the second stripe differ so that the center wavelengths selected by the first stripe and the center wavelength selected by the second stripe are different.

According to the next invention, the period of the diffraction grating in each stripe is made to differ so that the center wavelength selected by each stripe is different.

According to the next invention, the difference between the center wavelength of the first laser beam and the center wavelength of the second laser beam is not less than 0.5 times the wavelength spacing between the adjoining oscillation longitudinal modes of the first laser beam and the second laser beam. Consequently, the DOP of the combined light can be reduced, irrespective of whether the oscillation longitudinal modes of the laser beams emitted from the two stripes overlap or not.

According to the next invention, the difference between the center wavelength of the first laser beam and the center wavelength of the second laser beam is not less than 1.5 times the wavelength spacing between the adjoining oscillation longitudinal modes of the first laser beam and the second laser beam. This has the effect of being able to reduce the DOP of the combined light to 10% or lower, irrespective of whether the oscillation longitudinal modes of the laser beams emitted from the two stripes overlap or not.

According to the next invention, the difference between the center wavelength of the first laser beam and the center wavelength of the second laser beam is not less than 5 times the wavelength spacing between the adjoining oscillation longitudinal modes of the first laser beam and the second laser beam. This has the effect of being able to reduce the DOP of the combined light to 5% or lower, irrespective of whether the oscillation longitudinal modes of the laser beams emitted from the two stripes overlap or not.

According to the next invention, the difference between the peak wavelength of the first laser beam and the peak wavelength of the second laser beam is not less than 0.01 nm. Consequently, the overlapping of two oscillation longitudinal modes is suppressed, whereby the DOP can be reduced.

According to the next invention, the difference between two oscillation longitudinal modes above a specific intensity is not less than 0.01 nm. Consequently, the overlapping of two oscillation longitudinal modes is suppressed, whereby the DOP can be reduced.

According to the next invention, the difference is not less than 0.1 nm. Consequently, the overlapping of two oscillation longitudinal modes is suppressed, whereby the DOP can be reduced.

According to the next invention, the two oscillation wavelength spectrums do not cross each other on the portions above a specific intensity. Consequently, even if oscillation longitudinal modes overlap, the intensity of these oscillation longitudinal modes are small. As a result, it is possible to reduce the DOP.

According to the next invention, the oscillation longitudinal modes above a specific intensity of the first laser beam and of the second laser beam have a frequency difference not less than a specific value. It has the effect of being able to suppress the beat noise, or even if the beat noise does occur, it can be outside the frequency band of the optical transmission system to which the semiconductor laser device is used.

According to the next invention, the first laser beam and the second laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser device are polarization-combined, and the polarization-combined beam is output to the optical fiber. This has the effect of being able to emit a laser beam of a reduced DOP.

According to the next invention, a single lens is used to separate the first laser beam and the second laser beam so as to widen the distance between the two laser beams. Since the two laser beams are first separated and then polarization-combined, it is easy to design and assemble the parts required for polarization-combining the two laser beams emitted from these stripes, even if the stripes are close to each other.

According to the next invention, it is possible to provide an optical fiber amplifier with reduced polarization dependency of gain, using the above semiconductor laser device or semiconductor laser module.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The semiconductor laser device, the semiconductor laser module, and the optical fiber amplifier using the semiconductor laser module according to the present invention are suitable for a pumping source for Raman amplification, and suitable for realizing stable and high-gain amplification to be used in an optical transmission system.