Patent ID: 6744792
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
Wavelength stabilizing apparatus for use in stabilizing the wavelength of an optically pumped tunable laser to a predetermined target wavelength, wherein the optically pumped tunable laser provides an output laser signal having an instantaneous wavelength and the optically pumped tunable laser is optically pumped by a pump laser signal provided by a pump laser, the pump laser signal having an intensity, the pump laser and the optically pumped tunable laser each having a gain medium and each gain medium having an electrooptical performance characteristic, the wavelength stabilizing apparatus comprising:a wavelength measuring module for detecting a difference between the instantaneous wavelength of the output laser signal and the predetermined target wavelength, and for generating an output error signal which is representative of the difference; and a control unit for receiving said output error signal from said wavelength measuring module and for providing a control signal to said pump laser suitable for modifying the electrooptical performance characteristic of said the medium of the pump laser in accordance with said control signal, wherein the modified electrooptical performance characteristic of the gain medium modulates the intensity of said pump laser signal, wherein the modulated pump laser signal modifies the electrooptical performance characteristic of the gain medium of the optically pumped tunable laser, wherein the wavelength of the output laser signal of the optically pumped tunable laser is adjusted to substantially equal the predetermined target wavelength.