Patent ID: 7209499
Filing Date: 2007-04-24
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A frequency tuning system comprising: a laser having both a lasing cavity and a feedback cavity along an optical axis; the lasing cavity containing a lasing medium for amplifying a range of frequencies and having a first fixed optical path length along the optical axis; the feedback cavity optically coupled to the lasing cavity and having a second fixed optical path length along the optical axis; the lasing cavity favoring an amplification of frequencies that (a) are within the range of frequencies amplified by the lasing medium and (b) have integer numbers of wavelengths spanning a distance of two times the first optical path length of the lasing cavity; the feedback cavity favoring the coupling of frequencies with the lasing cavity having integer numbers of wavelengths spanning a distance of two times the second optical path length of the feedback cavity; at least some of the frequencies favored for amplification by the lasing cavity corresponding to the frequencies favored by the feedback cavity for coupling with the lasing cavity; and a frequency adjuster that selects among the corresponding frequencies for shifting a frequency output of the laser through discrete frequency increments at the fixed optical path length of the feedback cavity.