Wavelength conversion in distributed-feedback lasers

We present both theoretical and experimental studies of four-wave mixing in a distributed-feedback (DFB) laser. The measured amplified spontaneous emission and probe gain spectra are also used to extract the DFB laser parameters. We use mean-field theory to investigate both nearly 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 compared with those of the theoretical results. We also demonstrate the DFB cavity effects on the conversion efficiency spectrum.