Tunable external cavity laser
First Claim
1. An external cavity laser apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a gain medium emitting a light beam; and
(b) a tunable element positioned in said light beam and configured to feed back light of a selected wavelength to said gain medium;
(c) said tunable element adjustable according to a first degree of freedom of movement to provide selection of wavelength of said light fed back to said gain medium;
(d) said tunable element adjustable according to a second degree of freedom of movement to provide control of phase of said light fed back to said gain medium;
(e) said tunable element configured such that adjustment of said tunable element for said selection of said wavelength is orthogonal with respect to adjustment of said tunable element for control of said phase.
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Accused Products
Abstract
External cavity lasers apparatus and methods that allow fast tuning, high wavelength stability, low cavity losses, and form factors that are comparable to solid state, fixed wavelength lasers. The apparatus comprise a gain medium emitting a light beam, a tunable wavelength selection element positioned in the light beam and configured feed back light of a selected wavelength to the gain medium, and a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator element operatively coupled to the tunable wavelength selection element. The MEMS actuator element may be configured to actuate the tunable wavelength selection element according to a first degree of freedom to select the wavelength of the feedback to the gain medium, and to actuate the actuate the tunable wavelength selection element according to a second degree of freedom to provide phase control of the feedback. The MEMS actuator element and tunable wavelength selection element may additionally be configured such that actuation of the tunable wavelength selection element with respect to a third degree of freedom provides a selectable level of attenuation of the feedback to the gain medium.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An external cavity laser apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a gain medium emitting a light beam; and
(b) a tunable element positioned in said light beam and configured to feed back light of a selected wavelength to said gain medium;
(c) said tunable element adjustable according to a first degree of freedom of movement to provide selection of wavelength of said light fed back to said gain medium;
(d) said tunable element adjustable according to a second degree of freedom of movement to provide control of phase of said light fed back to said gain medium;
(e) said tunable element configured such that adjustment of said tunable element for said selection of said wavelength is orthogonal with respect to adjustment of said tunable element for control of said phase. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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18. An external cavity laser apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a gain medium having first and second facets and emitting a light beam from said first facet;
(b) a tunable wavelength selection element, said tunable wavelength selection element comprising a grating, said tunable wavelength selection element positioned in said light beam and configured feed back light to said gain medium, said grating and said second facet of said gain medium defining an external laser cavity; and
(c) a microelectromechanical system actuator element operatively coupled to said tunable wavelength selection element;
(d) said microelectromechanical system actuator element configured to actuate said tunable wavelength selection element according to a first degree of freedom of movement to provide selection of wavelength of said light fed back to said gain medium;
(e) said microelectromechanical system actuator configured to actuate said tunable wavelength selection element according to a second degree of freedom of movement to control length of said external laser cavity;
(f) said tunable wavelength selection element configured such that said adjustment of said selection of said wavelength is orthogonal with respect to said adjustment of said phase.
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29. A method for laser operation, comprising:
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(a) emitting a light beam from a gain medium;
(b) positioning a tunable element in said light beam;
(d) feeding back light to said gain medium by said tunable element;
(e) selecting wavelength of said light fed back to said gain medium by positionally adjusting said tunable element with respect to a first degree of freedom of movement; and
(f) controlling phase of said light fed back to said gain medium by positionally adjusting said tunable element with respect to a second degree of freedom of motion;
(g) said positionally adjusting of said tunable element for selecting said wavelength carried out orthogonally with respect to said positionally adjusting said tunable element for controlling said phase of said light fed back to said gain medium.
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41. An laser apparatus, comprising:
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(a) gain means for emitting a light beam (b) tunable means for wavelength selection positioned in said light beam and configured feed back light of a selected wavelength to said gain medium;
(c) microelectromechanical system actuation means for positionally adjusting said tunable means with respect to a first degree of freedom of movement to provide selection of wavelength of said light fed back to said gain medium, and for positionally adjusting said tunable means with respect to a second degree of freedom of movement to provide control of phase of said light fed back to said gain medium;
(d) said tunable means configured such that said adjustment of said tunable means for selection of said wavelength is orthogonal with respect to said adjustment of said tunable means for control of said phase.
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Specification