Patent ID: 8514898

Claim:
A motion-based wavelength tuning control subsystem for a tunable mode-locked laser, comprising: a first prism located in an output path of an optical gain medium, said first prism producing from said output of said optical gain medium a plurality of wavelength-dependent diverging optical paths; a second prism disposed for receiving said plurality of wavelength-dependent diverging optical paths; a stop defining a stop opening, said stop positioned between said first and second prisms and in a fixed positional relationship with said first and second prisms, said stop opening positioned such that optical output from said first prism may pass through said opening and thereafter be incident upon said second prism, said opening sized to permit a desired bandwidth around a central wavelength within said plurality of wavelength-dependent diverging optical paths to be transmitted thereby; and a first moveable beam-shifting reflector disposed between said first prism and said stop, movement of said first moveable beam-shifting reflector determining which bandwidth within said plurality of wavelength-dependent diverging optical paths is transmitted by said stop to said second prism.