Patent ID: 7570675

Claim:
A laser apparatus comprising: a platform; a gain medium coupled to the platform, the gain medium having a first output facet and a second output facet to emit a light beam from in response to an electrical input; a reflector positioned to reflect the light beam and coupled to the platform, the reflector and the first output facet defining a laser cavity having an optical path length; and an electrically controllable wavelength selection device disposed within the laser cavity, the electrically controllable wavelength selection device having a tunable optical element mounted to a support coupled to the platform, wherein the support is formed of a liquid crystal polymer and is coupled to the platform such that the tunable optical element extends orthogonally from an upper surface of the support into the laser cavity, wherein the tunable optical element is mounted to a thermally responsive region of the support, wherein the support includes at least one embedded electrode for electrically controlling the thermally responsive region of the wavelength selection device.