Tunable laser enhances DWDM

Presented as the first such device of its type, a wavelength-tunable laser technology from Fujitsu (Tokyo, Japan) can operate in 10-Gbit/s DWDM optical transmission systems at distances of up to 80 km. Enabling practical application of small high-performance optical transceivers, Tunable Distributed Amplification-Distributed FeedBack technology integrates the optical modulator with the laser source and applies changes incurred in the refraction index of the wavelength-tuning area when an electrical current is injected.

A prototype XFP-type optical transceiver created using the technology has characteristics including stable tunability for four wavelengths over 100-GHz intervals. The research is continuing with an aim to commercialize the technology by mid to late 2008. For more information, call Fujitsu at 011-81-46-250-8219, e-mail txfp@ml.labs.fujitsu.com, or visit http://jp.fujitsu.com/labs/en.

—Alix L. Paultre