A method for easily and quickly evaluating the wavelength variability
properties of a wavelength-variable semiconductor laser is provided. An
inspection device includes a power source for supplying current to a
wavelength-variable DBR semiconductor laser having an active region, a
phase control region, and a DBR region, a photo-detector for detecting an
output intensity of laser beam emitted from the wavelength-variable DBR
semiconductor laser, and a transmission type wavelength-selection element
that can be inserted into a light path from the wavelength-variable DBR
semiconductor laser to the photo-detector. In a state where the
transmission type wavelength-selection element is inserted into the light
path from the wavelength-variable DBR semiconductor laser to the
photo-detector, at least one of a phase current that is supplied to the
phase control region and a DBR current that is supplied to the DBR region
is changed with respect to a predetermined active current that is
supplied to the active region, and the output intensity of the laser beam
after the laser beam has passed through the transmission type
wavelength-selection element is detected by the photo-detector.