Patent ID: 6724790
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A tunable external cavity laser apparatus, comprising:a gain medium having first and second at least partially-reflective 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 positioned opposite the second at least partially-reflective facet of said gain medium, said first at least partially-reflected facet and reflective element defining an external laser cavity in which a second portion of light is internally reflected to produce a second lasing condition having a second reflection phase; and means for adjusting the first reflection phase relative to the second reflection phase to control a characteristic of an optical output produced by the laser apparatus as a function of the first and second lasing conditions, said characteristic comprising at least one member from the group of: laser output power, side-mode suppression, stabilizing laser operations relative to external perturbations, and tuning the laser.