Method and system for managing thermally sensitive optical devices

A method, for operating a first and a second laser disposed in an environment, comprising the steps of:

• setting the first laser to a first temperature at which the first laser is operable to output light having a wavelength in a wavelength division multiplexing channel;
• setting the second laser to a second temperature, substantially different than the first temperature, at which the second laser is operable to output light having a wavelength in the channel;
• heating the second laser to a third temperature, substantially different from the first temperature and the second temperature, to cause the second laser to mode hop, subsequent to selecting the first set laser;
• and
• in response to determining a temperature of the environment, selecting the first set laser over the second set laser to output the light having the wavelength in the channel,
• wherein at least one of the first temperature or the second temperature is above a maximum temperature of the environment, each of the first laser and the second laser has a respective free spectral range approximately corresponding to a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature, and the first laser and the second laser are optically coupled to a common optical waveguide.