EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER WITH SINGLE MODE-HOP-FREE TUNING

摘要

External cavity lasers with single mode-hop-free tuning are generally described. In an example, an external cavity tunable laser system includes an external cavity, a substrate, a chirped grating reflector, and a tunable filter. The substrate has a gain region disposed on the substrate and also includes an active waveguide. The external cavity tunable laser system has a cavity length of the external cavity tunable laser system that is defined by at least a first length of the chirped grating reflector, a second length of the gain region, and a third length of the tunable filter. The cavity length also has an inherent external cavity longitudinal mode. Further, the tunable filter and the chirped grating reflector are configured to synchronize to the inherent external cavity longitudinal mode over a tuning range of the tunable filter.