Optical wavelength converter and image forming apparatus using the same

Abstract

An optical wavelength converter includes a distributed Bragg reflector laser having an active area, a phase area, and a distributed Bragg reflector area in which a distributed Bragg reflector is formed; an optical wavelength conversion device for receiving fundamental wave light emitted from said distributed Bragg reflector laser and outputting second harmonic wave light of the fundamental wave light; and a control circuit for controlling an emission wavelength and a light output by controlling an injection current to be injected into the distributed Bragg reflector laser for each period. The control circuit controls the injection current to be injected into the distributed Bragg reflector laser while satisfying a condition for controlling a light output mode of the distributed Bragg reflector laser so that light energy to be inputted into the optical wavelength conversion device in each period is constant and satisfying a condition for injecting a current into each of an active area, a phase area, and a distributed Bragg reflector area in each of periods in a mode of constant amount of generated heat so that an injection current-emission wavelength characteristic in the distributed Bragg reflector area is constant.