Patent ID: 6633593
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A semiconductor laser having a cavity comprised of:a gain chip for providing radiant energy within the cavity; an interferometric wide tuning port for generating resonances within the cavity and having at least two interferometric optical channels, with at least one of the interferometric optical channels having an adjustable length, to selectively generate resonances at selectable wavelengths; wherein the interferometric wide tuning port has a coarse tuning profile to generate a broad peak for limiting resonances within the cavity to a single broad peak; a wavelength selective mirror for generating resonances within the cavity and receiving radiant energy with a single broad peak from the interferometric wide tuning port, having a main channel and an adjustable side channel, such that the main channel and the side channel have portions formed sufficiently close to one another to selectively permit evanescent coupling of radiant energy propagating at frequencies dependent upon the length of the side channel; wherein the wavelength-selective mirror has a fine tuning profile to generate a set of sharp peaks which further limit resonances within the cavity; and wherein the interferometric wide tuning port aligns a wavelength of the broad peak at a selected wavelength, and the wavelength selective mirror aligns one of the sharp peaks also at the selected wavelength, to provide sufficient resonance for the laser to emit a sharp peak at the tuned wavelength.