Patent ID: 7061948
Filing Date: 2006-06-13
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A wavelength stabilizing apparatus for stabilizing the wavelength of a laser-beam radiated from a semiconductor laser, comprising: an etalon which is obtained by cutting a quartz bulk, and includes a pair of light reflecting film layers formed on a pair of Z-cut surfaces of the etalon, respectively, and a pair of electrode layers formed on a pair of X-cut surfaces thereof, respectively; a dither signal generator which generates a dither signal corresponding to a mechanical resonance frequency of the etalon; a pair of shafts which are conductive, have a pair of end portions connected to the pair of X-cut surfaces of the etalon, respectively, to axially support the etalon, and are supplied with the dither signal; a supporting device which supports the pair of shafts; a photo-detector which receives the laser-beam transmitted through the etalon and converts the received laser-beam into an electrical signal; an error signal generator which generates an error signal by comparing the electrical signal with the dither signal; and a controller which controls a driving state of the semiconductor laser on the basis of the error signal to approach the wavelength of the laser beam to an extremal value of a light transmittance of the etalon.