Tunable laser with suppression of spontaneous emission

US6608847B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• New Focus, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Guangzhi Z. Zhang · San Jose, US
• Andrew Davidson · Sunnyvale, US
• David A. Robinson · Tolland, US
• Carter Hand · San Francisco, US
• Mark Wippich · Campbell, US
• Murray Reed · Menlo Park, US
• Weizhi Wang · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 28, 2001
• Grant date: Aug 19, 2003
• Expiry date: Nov 30, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S2301/02
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A laser apparatus and method with compact cavity design that provides suppression of source spontaneous emission (SSE) and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) light with minimal loss. The laser comprises a gain medium emitting a light beam along an optical path, a tuning element positioned in the optical path and configured feed back light of a selected wavelength to the gain medium and configured to define a first output beam directed along a first output path, a partial reflector located in the optical path and positioned to create a second output beam directed along a second output path substantially parallel to the first output path; and having a spontaneous emission component that is spatially separated from the selected wavelength. The second output beam can be coupled into optical fiber and produce a coherent light source with high spectral purity and tunable wavelengths.