Continuous wavelength tunable laser source with optimum orientation of grating and gain medium
First Claim
1. An external cavity laser assembly for generating a light beam, the laser assembly comprising:
- a gain medium having a growth direction, a fast axis, a first facet, and a second facet that is spaced apart from the first facet, the gain medium generating the light beam when electrical current is directed through gain medium, the gain medium emitting from both facets, wherein a beam polarization of the light beam emitting from the second facet is perpendicular to the growth direction and the fast axis; and
a diffraction grating positioned in the path of the laser beam that emits from the second facet, the grating including a plurality of grating ridges that are oriented substantially parallel to the beam polarization.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An external cavity laser assembly (10) that generates a light beam (12) includes a gain medium (14) and a diffraction grating (24). The gain medium (14) has a growth direction (14C), a fast axis (14A), a first facet (34A), and a second facet (34B) that is spaced apart from the first facet (34A). The gain medium (14) emits from both facets (34A) (34B). Further, a beam polarization (30) of the light beam (32) emitting from the second facet (34B) is perpendicular to the growth direction (14C) and the fast axis (14A). The grating (24) includes a plurality of grating ridges (24A) that are oriented parallel to the beam polarization (30). Moreover, each of the grating ridges (24A) can have a substantially rectangular shaped cross-sectional profile.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An external cavity laser assembly for generating a light beam, the laser assembly comprising:
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a gain medium having a growth direction, a fast axis, a first facet, and a second facet that is spaced apart from the first facet, the gain medium generating the light beam when electrical current is directed through gain medium, the gain medium emitting from both facets, wherein a beam polarization of the light beam emitting from the second facet is perpendicular to the growth direction and the fast axis; and a diffraction grating positioned in the path of the laser beam that emits from the second facet, the grating including a plurality of grating ridges that are oriented substantially parallel to the beam polarization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An external cavity laser assembly for generating a light beam, the laser assembly comprising:
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a gain medium having a growth direction, a fast axis, a first facet, and a second facet that is spaced apart from the first facet, the gain medium generating the light beam when power is directed to the gain medium, the gain medium emitting from both facets, wherein a beam polarization of the light beam emitting from the second facet is perpendicular to the growth direction and the fast axis; a diffraction grating positioned in the path of the laser beam that emits from the second facet, the grating including a plurality of grating ridges that are substantially parallel to the beam polarization, wherein each of the grating ridges has a substantially rectangular shaped cross-sectional profile; and a grating mover that moves the diffraction grating relative to the gain medium about a grating pivot axis to tune the lasing frequency of the external cavity, wherein the grating pivot axis is approximately parallel to the beam polarization. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for generating a light beam, the method comprising the steps of:
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directing power to a gain medium to generate the light beam, the gain medium having a growth direction, a fast axis, a first facet, and a second facet that is spaced apart from the first facet, the gain medium emitting from both facets, wherein a beam polarization of the light beam emitting from the second facet is perpendicular to the growth direction and the fast axis; and positioning a diffraction grating in the path of the laser beam that emits from the second facet, the grating including a plurality of grating ridges that are approximately parallel to the beam polarization. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification