Laser facet phase control
US6724790B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 31, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 15, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/142
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tunable external cavity laser apparatus and method of laser operation. The apparatus includes a gain medium having first and second facets defining a facet laser cavity in which a first portion of light is internally reflected to produce a first lasing condition having a first reflection phase. A reflective element is positioned opposite the second facet of the gain medium, forming an external laser cavity defined by the first facet and reflective element. A second portion of light is internally reflected within the external cavity to produce a second lasing condition having a second reflection phase. A phase adjustment means is employed to adjust the first reflection phase relative to the second reflection phase so as to control a characteristic of the output beam emitted from the apparatus, such as the power output level of the beam. In one aspect, the relative phase is adjusted by controlling the temperature of the gain medium.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.