Spectral Properties of Miniature CW Lasers
In the case of single-frequency operation, the total spectral bandwidth is in the picometer or even femtometer range and is often expressed in bandwidth FWHM (GHz) instead of wavelength FWHM (pm). Another important parameter of SLM lasers is SMRS - abbreviated from Side Mode Suppression Ratio. This parameter shows, how much other longitudinal modes are suppressed with respect to the main mode, which is amplified. In any case, the other side modes are radiated as spontaneous emission or amplification with just several roundtrips in the cavity. SMSR of around 50 dB is considered suitable for SLM diode lasers.
Methods for achieving SLM operation in diode lasers

Integrated Optics offers mainly VBG based SLM diode lasers. This is chosen for multiple reasons. First of all, this concept allows making SLM lasers based on low-cost conventional laser diodes in a variety of wavelengths, as opposed to DFB (distributed feedback) lasers, for example. Secondly, such design is space-saving and can be incorporated in very compact housings, which is not the case of DBR using holographic reflection gratings. A combination of miniaturized precision electronics, proprietary micro-assembly technique, and VBG optical design allows us to make the most compact SLM laser modules on the market.
Wavelength stability of SLM diode lasers

For example, VBG stabilized single-frequency lasers typically feature central wavelength stability of less than 10 pm at constant output power.
The wavelength stability parameter really depends on how the laser is designed - if it has precision temperature stabilization, what is the noise of the power electronics, how robust it is against environmental conditions, such as temperature change or mechanical stress. SLM diode laser made by Integrated Optics features less than 10 pm central wavelength stability in a temperature range from 15 deg. to 35 deg. Celsius.
Limitations of SLM lasers
Limited output power tuning. When using ECDL concepts, the laser diode is seeded back with part of the radiation, but the seed has a very narrow linewidth. In order to stabilize a laser at a desired central wavelength, the original spectrum of the laser diode must also emit some radiation in that particular wavelength - otherwise, there will be not sufficient useful radiation to reflect.
It is widely known that it is possible to tune the central wavelength of a laser diode by changing temperature or output power. Change of either of these results in a change of actual temperature of the emitting area of the laser diode, which effectively changes the wavelength. This is so-called thermal wavelength tuning. The cooler is the emitter, the lower wavelength is emitted, and vice versa. Here comes the limitation of the power tuning for SLM diode lasers - once the power is decreased or increased,
the natural central wavelength of the laser diode is shifted towards the blue or red region respectively. Once the natural emission spectrum does not sufficiently cover the desired stabilization wavelength, the locking is lost and the diode might no more be stabilized. This means that the power tuning range of ECD lasers is often very narrow and in each case depends, what is the initial equilibrium - if the desired wavelength is well matched with the natural spectrum of the laser diode at a reasonable temperature,
e.g. 25 deg. C.
Such quite favorable condition is represented in the graph above on the right. This particular laser had a quite good overlap of the reflection wavelength of the VBG and natural emission spectrum of the laser diode, thus tuning from 20 mW to 120 mW was possible without losing SLM operation. On the other hand, when the output power is changed, the center wavelength stability is much worse than 10 pm.
Limited ON/OFF modulation. SLM lasers are sensitive to change in temperature in the emitting region, as explained above. In case the laser is modulated in an ON/OFF mode, the average output power decreases, so does the emitter facet temperature.
This results in wavelength shifting - very similar to what happens in simply changing the output power of the laser. If the natural spectrum of the laser diode is shifted too much, no more SLM behavior is to be expected.