Piezo activated mode tracking system for widely tunable mode-hop-free external cavity mid-IR semiconductor lasers
US7733924B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/3401
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A widely tunable, mode-hop-free semiconductor laser operating in the mid-IR comprises a QCL laser chip having an effective QCL cavity length, a diffraction grating defining a grating angle and an external cavity length with respect to said chip, and means for controlling the QCL cavity length, the external cavity length, and the grating angle. The laser of claim 1 wherein said chip may be tuned over a range of frequencies even in the absence of an anti-reflective coating. The diffraction grating is controllably pivotable and translatable relative to said chip and the effective QCL cavity length can be adjusted by varying the injection current to the chip. The laser can be used for high resolution spectroscopic applications and multi species trace-gas detection. Mode-hopping is avoided by controlling the effective QCL cavity length, the external cavity length, and the grating angle so as to replicate a virtual pivot point.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.