US 11,095,095 B2 · Low cost external cavity diode lasers

Abstract

External cavity diode laser (ECDL) devices and methods for producing the same are described that allows ECDLs to be readily produced and configured to operate at a desired range of wavelengths, while allowing tunability of the output wavelength. One ECDL includes a laser gain chip including a gain medium, a first reflective surface at a first end of the gain medium, and a second surface at a second end of the gain medium opposite to the first reflective surface. The second surface has a facet that forms an angle approximately equal to Brewster's angle for light having a first wavelength. The ECDL further includes a diffraction grating positioned to receive light that passes through the second surface, to operate as a mirror in the external cavity diode laser, and to allow a portion of the light to be directed outside of the external cavity diode laser as output light.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method for producing an external cavity diode laser (ECDL), the method comprising:

determining a desired wavelength, or a desired range of wavelengths, of an output light to be generated by the ECDL;
selecting a particular laser chip comprising a gain medium capable of producing the desired wavelength, or the desired range of wavelengths, of the output light;
computing a Brewster's angle based on at least the desired wavelength, or the desired range of wavelengths, and an index of refraction of the gain medium;
modifying an output end of the gain medium to form an angled facet having an angle that is approximately equal to the computed Brewster's angle;
and
placing the laser chip at one end of a cavity of the ECDL, wherein the particular laser chip includes an antireflection coating at the output end of the laser gain medium, and the method further comprises removing the antireflection coating prior to modifying the output end.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low cost external cavity diode lasers

Life of this patent

Low cost external cavity diode lasers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11