Bookham Technology introduced a 2.5 Gbps directly modulated laser (DML) that is tunable over eight adjacent 50GHz ITU DWDM channels. The laser has a 360km reach and is available in 2, 3 and 4mW peak-power versions.
Bookham said the 360km reach is a record for an eight channel thermally tunable DML, and mounts a serious challenge to the electro-absorption (EA) modulation designs that currently dominate this transmission distance. EA modulated lasers are more expensive than its new device, which is better suited to automated card set-up, tuning and high optical output power.
The new device uses three key Bookham technologies to achieve its 50GHz compliance: an ultra-low-chirp thermally tuned DFB laser, co-packaged with a wavelength locker, and a cooler technology that reduces wavelength drift as the device case temperature changes. http://www.bookham.com
