Thermally-controlled photonic structure

A thermally-controlled photonic structure, comprising:

• a suspended region that is suspended over a substrate;
• a plurality of bridge elements connected to the suspended region and configured to suspend the suspended region over the substrate;
• and
• at least one heater element disposed on the suspended region,
• wherein the at least one heater element is structured and arranged relative to the plurality of bridge elements to compensate for heat dissipation along the plurality of bridge elements and to control a temperature profile along the suspended region,
• wherein the at least one heater element includes at least one concave section, and
• wherein the at least one heater element is structured and arranged relative to the plurality of bridge elements such that the at least one concave section is in alignment with a bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements.

A tunable laser, comprising:

• a thermally-controlled mirror structure, comprising:
• an optical waveguide region suspended over a substrate,
• wherein the optical waveguide region includes a grating for reflecting light;
• a plurality of bridge elements connected to the optical waveguide region and configured to suspend the optical waveguide region over the substrate;
• and
• at least one heater element disposed on the optical waveguide region,
• wherein the at least one heater element is structured and arranged relative to the plurality of bridge elements to compensate for heat dissipation along the plurality of bridge elements and to control a temperature profile along the grating,
• wherein the at least one heater element includes at least one concave section, and
• wherein the at least one heater element is structured and arranged relative to the plurality of bridge elements such that the at least one concave section is in alignment with a bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements.