Mode-locked semiconductor laser capable of changing output-comb frequency spacing
US10840672B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 2017 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/06256
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A mode-locked semiconductor laser capable of changing the spacing between the carrier frequencies of its output comb. In an example embodiment, the mode-locked semiconductor laser is implemented as a hybrid solid-state device comprising a III-V semiconductor chip and a silicon chip attached to one another to form a laser cavity. The III-V semiconductor chip includes a gain medium configured to generate light in response to being electrically and/or optically pumped. The silicon chip includes a plurality of optical waveguides arranged to provide multiple optical paths of different effective lengths for the light generated in the laser cavity. Different optical paths can be controllably selected, using one or more optical switches connected between the optical waveguides, to change the effective optical length of the laser cavity and, as a result, the output-comb frequency spacing. In some embodiments, the output-comb frequency spacing can be changeable at least by a factor of 1.5.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.