Abstract

An optical transmission system includes a laser, a transmitter and a receiver. The laser is capable of operating on an inhomogeneously broadened optical transition of the active region of the laser. A spectral bandwidth of an output lasing spectrum of the laser is greater than 5 nm and a spectral power density of the laser is greater than 2 mW/nm such that an optical power of the laser is greater than 10 mW. The laser provides a plurality of optical signals at different wavelengths. The transmitter is capable of providing modulation to each lasing wavelength independently and the receiver is capable of providing detection to each lasing wavelength independently.