Electronic tuning of LEC lasers

Kevin Doughty; Keith H. Cameron

doi:10.1117/12.138374

2 December 1992 Electronic tuning of LEC lasers

Kevin Doughty, Keith H. Cameron

Proceedings Volume 1703, Optical Technology for Microwave Applications VI and Optoelectronic Signal Processing for Phased-Array Antennas III; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.138374
Event: Aerospace Sensing, 1992, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

A key element in any optical system is the light source and semi-conductor lasers have become the most attractive candidates for many applications due to their small size, low drive voltages and high output powers. However, their linewidths need to be reduced for operation at ever-increasing modulation rates. Monolithic laser designs such as the distributed feedback (DFE) and distributed Bragg reflector (DER) produce line-narrowed outputs by including an internal grating within the laser cavity [1). If the cavity is extended beyond the active semi-conductor chip then this long external cavity arrangement, with a reflector at the end, can produce far greater line-width reductions provided that a mechanism is included for selection of a single longitudinal lasing mode [2). Applications for tunable LEC lasers have increased dramatically in recent years and now extend from local oscillators in coherent detection schemes to testing of optical components such as filters and amplifiers and they might in future also be employed in sophisticated fibre optic sensor systems. Various designs have been proposed for mechanical arrangements which would enable wide-range tuning whilst maintaining a single longitudinal mode [3-5) but, in practice, suffer from backlash, hysteresis and slow operation which make them non—ideal for field operation. In the present work we seek an improved control system which will enable wavelength tuning to be performed with the ease and consistency of the electronic tuning schemes.

Citation Download Citation

Kevin Doughty and Keith H. Cameron "Electronic tuning of LEC lasers", Proc. SPIE 1703, Optical Technology for Microwave Applications VI and Optoelectronic Signal Processing for Phased-Array Antennas III, (2 December 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.138374

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
7 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Control systems

Optical filters

Acousto-optics

Electro optics

Optical components

Acoustics

Actuators

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years