Stabilization of laser sources with closely-coupled optical reflectors using an internal dither circuit
US6215809A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 20, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/0652
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus for providing a laser source optically coupled to an optical waveguide, such as an optical fiber, having a reflective grating positioned from the output facet of the laser source a distance equal to or greater than the coherence length of the laser source providing a portion of reflective feedback into the laser source optical cavity to maintain wavelength operation of the laser source in spite of changes in the laser operating temperature or drive current based upon coherence collapse in the laser operation. In cases where the fiber grating is positioned in the fiber within the coherence length of the laser source, intermittent coherence collapse, as opposed to continuous coherence collapse, is unavoidable. In cases where such a laser source is a pumping source for a solid state gain medium, such as an optical amplifier or laser having an active gain element, e.g., an Er doped amplifier, undesirable perturbations in the laser source output are present which have a deleterious effect on the operation of the solid state gain medium. The effect of these undesirable perturbations are substantially removed by a small, continuous variation or dither in the driving current of t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.