Laser having a substantially planar waveguide

摘要

A laser which contains a substantially planar wave­guide (61) wherein the waveguide along the direction of light propagation (64) is comprised of varying combinations of high-­gain (62) and low-gain regions (63) so that the cumulative gain from one end of the optical cavity to the other varies as a function of position along a line within the plane of said waveguide (61) which is perpendicular to the direction of light propagation (64).