A multi-section semiconductor laser diode is disclosed. The laser diode
includes a complex-coupled DFB laser section that includes a
complex-coupled grating and an active structure for controlling the
intensity of oscillating laser light, to oscillate laser light in a
single mode, and an external cavity including a phase control section and
an amplifier section, the phase control section having a passive
waveguide that controls a phase variation of feedback laser light, the
amplification section having an active structure that controls the
strength of the feedback laser light. Currents are separately provided to
the three sections to generate optical pulses with tuning range of tens
of GHz. Applications include the clock recovery in the 3R regeneration of
the optical communication.