Method for reducing amplitude noise in multi-wavelength modelocked semiconductor lasers

A method for reducing intensity fluctuations and amplitude noise in a multiwavelength modelocked laser device and manipulating the interwavelength phase coherence, comprising the steps of:

• generating simultaneously multiple wavelength channels from a modelocked laser source;
• reducing intensity fluctuations and amplitude noise in each of the channels, wherein each of the channels has substantially identical intensity levels;
• and
• adjusting the position of laser cavity components to achieve the desired degree interwavelength phase coherence.

A multiwavelength modelocked laser, comprising:

• a semiconductor optical amplifier(SOA);
• a cylindrical lens;
• and
• mirrors about both the SOA and the cylindrical lens to form a laser cavity;
• and
• means for generating modelocked multiwavelength signals from the laser cavity.

A multiwavelength modelocked laser comprising:

• a modelocked laser source within an optical cavity;
• means for spectral gain flattening an optical pulse within the cavity;
• and
• means for suppressing noise in the optical pulse within the cavity;
• and
• means for generating a plurality of wavelength channels from the optical cavity.