An optical device, including a monolithically integrated diode laser and semiconductor
optical amplifier, that has reduced linewidth and improved side mode suppression
for a given output power target. In a preferred embodiment, the diode laser is
detuned from a gain peak wavelength to an emission wavelength. The semiconductor
optical amplifier has an active region that is bandgap shifted to move its gain
peak towards the emission wavelength of the laser diode, thus reducing its linewidth
enhancement factor. The diode laser is preferably either a gain-coupled or index-coupled
distributed feedback laser. The bandgap shift can be effected by known bandgap
shifting methods, such as ion implantation, dielectric cap disordering, and laser
induced disordering.