Patent ID: 10522972

Abstract:
In accordance with one aspect of the present application there is provided a DBR, laser. The DBR laser comprises a phase section in a cavity of the DBR laser configured to adjust an optical path length of the cavity. The laser also comprises a DBR section comprising a frequency tuning system, the frequency tuning system comprising a resistance heater configured to apply heat to a grating of the DBR section in order to adjust a Bragg frequency of the DBR section. A detector is configured to detect laser light transmitted through the DBR section. A controller is configured: to cause the phase section to apply a dither to the optical path length of the cavity or cause the frequency tuning system to apply a dither to the Bragg frequency of the DBR section; to use the detector to monitor intensity of light transmitted from the laser cavity via the DBR section during application of the dither; to determine a deviation from longitudinal mode centre operation on the basis of the monitored intensity; to cause the phase section to adjust the optical path length of the cavity in order to reduce said deviation; to determine an output frequency of the DBR laser on the basis of a resistance of the resistance heater; and to control the output frequency of the DBR laser by controlling power to the resistance heater.