Frequency tunable waveguide extended cavity laser

Claim 2

A frequency tunable waveguide extended cavity laser producing radiation at a desired frequency comprising: a) a laser diode having a reflecting rear facet and a front facet for emitting radiation; b) a channel waveguide for receiving radiation from said front facet of said laser diode, a portion of said channel waveguide having an electro-optical material in the waveguide channel that undergoes a refractive index change in response to an applied electric field; c) a Bragg grating reflector formed relative to said channel waveguide portion having said electro-optical material; and d) means for applying an adjustable electric field to said Bragg grating reflector to change the refractive index of said electro-optic material so as to be at a desired frequency.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein the front facet of said laser diode is coated with a partially reflective coating.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein the front facet of said laser diode is coated with an anti-reflective coating.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein said Bragg grating reflector is composed of said electro-optic material.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 wherein said Bragg grating reflector is composed of an optically transparent inorganic material positioned on the surface of said channel waveguide.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein said Bragg grating reflector is composed of an optically transparent organic material positioned on the surface of said channel waveguide.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein said means for applying an adjustable electric field to said Bragg grating reflector comprises an adjustable voltage system and a pair of conducting electrodes which surround said Bragg grating reflector.

Claim 9

A frequency tunable waveguide extended cavity laser producing radiation at a desired frequency comprising: a) a laser diode having a reflecting rear facet and a front facet for emitting radiation; b) a channel waveguide for receiving radiation from said front facet of said laser diode, a portion of said channel waveguide having an electro-optical material in the waveguide channel that undergoes a refractive index change in response to an applied electric field; c) a Bragg grating reflector formed relative to said channel waveguide portion having said electro-optical material; d) means for applying an adjustable electric field to said Bragg grating reflector to change the refractive index of said electro-optic material so as to be at a desired frequency; e) a nonlinear optical frequency convening waveguide portion having a nonlinear optical material which converts the frequency of said desired frequency to a higher frequency; and f) detection means opto-electronically responsive to the frequency converted radiation for continuously measuring the frequency converted radiation power, and feedback means for dynamically controlling said desired frequency so as to be at a frequency for optimum frequency conversion.

Claim 10

A frequency tunable waveguide extended cavity laser producing radiation at a desired frequency comprising: a) a laser diode having a reflecting rear facet and a front facet for emitting radiation; b) a channel waveguide for receiving radiation from said front facet of said laser diode, a portion of said channel waveguide having an electro-optical material in the waveguide channel that undergoes a refractive index change in response to an applied electric field; c) a Bragg grating reflector formed relative to said channel waveguide portion having said electro-optical material; d) means for applying an adjustable electric field to said Bragg grating reflector to change the refractive index of said electro-optic material so as to be at a desired frequency; e) a nonlinear optical frequency convening waveguide portion having a nonlinear optical material which converts the frequency of said desired frequency to a higher frequency; and f) detection means opto-electronically responsive to the frequency converted radiation for continuously measuring the frequency converted radiation power, and feedback means for dynamically controlling said desired frequency so as to be at a frequency for optimum frequency conversion.

Claim 11

The device of claim 8 wherein the front facet of said laser diode is coated with a partially reflective coating.

Claim 12

The device of claim 8 wherein tile front facet of said laser diode is coated with an anti-reflective coating.

Claim 13

The device of claim 8 wherein said Bragg grating reflector is composed of said electro-optic material.

Claim 14

The device of claim 8 wherein said Bragg grating reflector is composed of an optically transparent inorganic material positioned on the surface of said channel waveguide.

Claim 15

The device of claim 8 wherein said Bragg grating reflector is composed of an optically transparent organic material positioned on the surface of said channel waveguide.

Claim 16

The device of claim 8 wherein said means for applying an adjustable electric field to said Bragg grating reflector comprises an adjustable voltage system and a pair of conducting electrodes which surround said Bragg grating reflector.

Claim 17

The device of claim 8 wherein said electro-optic material and said nonlinear optical material are the same material.

Claim 18

A frequency tunable waveguide extended cavity laser producing radiation at a desired frequency comprising: a) a laser diode having a reflecting rear facet and a front facet for emitting radiation; b) a channel waveguide for receiving radiation from said front facet of said laser diode, a portion of said channel waveguide having an electro-optical material in the waveguide channel that undergoes a refractive index change in response to an applied electric field; c) a Bragg grating reflector formed relative to said channel waveguide portion having said electro-optical material; d) a nonlinear optical frequency converting waveguide portion having a nonlinear optical material which converts the frequency of said desired frequency to a higher frequency and for which said nonlinear optical frequency converting waveguide portion is located in between said laser diode and said Bragg grating reflector; e) means for applying an adjustable electric field to said Bragg grating reflector to change the refractive index of said electro-optic material so as to be at a desired frequency; and f) detection means opto-electronically responsive to the frequency converted radiation for continuously measuring the frequency converted radiation power, and feedback means for dynamically controlling said desired frequency so as to be at a frequency for optimum frequency conversion.

Claim 19

A frequency tunable waveguide extended cavity laser producing radiation at a desired frequency comprising: a) a laser diode having a reflecting rear facet and a front facet for emitting radiation; b) a channel waveguide for receiving radiation from said front facet of said laser diode, a portion of said channel waveguide having an electro-optical material in the waveguide channel that undergoes a refractive index change in response to an applied electric field; c) a Bragg grating reflector formed relative to said channel waveguide portion having said electro-optical material; d) a nonlinear optical frequency converting waveguide portion having a nonlinear optical material which converts the frequency of said desired frequency to a higher frequency and for which said nonlinear optical frequency converting waveguide portion is located in between said laser diode and said Bragg grating reflector; e) means for applying an adjustable electric field to said Bragg grating reflector to change the refractive index of said electro-optic material so as to be at a desired frequency; and f) detection means opto-electronically responsive to the frequency converted radiation for continuously measuring the frequency converted radiation power, and feedback means for dynamically controlling said desired frequency so as to be at a frequency for optimum frequency conversion.

Claim 20

The device of claim 16 wherein the front facet of said laser diode is coated with a partially reflective coating.

Claim 21

The device of claim 16 wherein the front facet of said laser diode is coated with an anti-reflective coating.

Claim 22

The device of claim 16 wherein said Bragg grating reflector is composed of said electro-optic material.

Claim 23

The device of claim 16 wherein said Bragg grating reflector is composed of an optically transparent inorganic material positioned on the surface of said channel waveguide.

Claim 24

The device of claim 16 wherein said Bragg grating reflector is composed of an optically transparent organic material positioned on the surface of said channel waveguide.

Claim 25

The device of claim 16 wherein said means for applying an adjustable electric field to said Bragg grating reflector includes an adjustable voltage system and a pair of conducting electrodes which surround said Bragg grating reflector.

Claim 26

The device of claim 16 wherein said electro-optic material and said nonlinear optical material are the same material.