Tunable optical waveguide laser using rare-earth dopants
AssigneePhoton-X, Inc.
InventorsRenyuan Gao, Anthony F. Garito
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Abstract
A tunable waveguide laser includes a laser cavity with a length of polymer waveguide doped with rare-earth elements and having reflectors at either end. The output wavelength of the waveguide laser depends on the configuration of the reflectors, which are generally optical gratings. Temperature control elements, such as resistive heaters, are used to adjust the temperature of the reflectors. The change in temperature causes a change in the configuration of the reflectors resulting in a shift in output wavelength. The temperature of the reflectors are controlled to achieve a desired output wavelength.
Claims38
A tunable waveguide laser comprising:
- a waveguide core comprised of polymer material and at least one dopant;
- a waveguide cladding surrounding the waveguide core;
- a first reflector formed near a first end of the waveguide core;
- a second reflector formed near a second end of the waveguide core, wherein at least the second reflector is an optical grating;
- and
- at least one temperature control element capable of changing a temperature of at least the second reflector.
A method of fabricating a tunable waveguide laser comprising:
- forming a first cladding layer comprised of polymer material on a substrate;
- forming a channel in the first cladding layer;
- forming a waveguide core in the channel, wherein the waveguide core is comprised of polymer material and at least one element from the lanthanide series;
- forming a first reflector near a first end of the waveguide core;
- forming a second reflector near a second end of the waveguide core, wherein the second reflector is an optical grating;
- forming a second cladding layer comprised of polymer material over the waveguide core;
- and
- forming at least one temperature control element capable of changing the temperature of at least the second reflector on the second cladding layer.
A method of fabricating a tunable waveguide laser comprising:
- providing a waveguide core comprised of polymer material and at least one element from the lanthanide series;
- providing a waveguide cladding surrounding the waveguide core;
- forming a first reflector near a first end of the waveguide core;
- forming a second reflector near a second end of the waveguide core, wherein at least the second reflector is an optical grating;
- and
- forming at least one temperature control element capable of changing the temperature of at least the second reflector to produce a desired output wavelength.
A method of tuning a waveguide laser comprising:
- providing a waveguide core comprised of polymer material and at least one element from the lanthanide series;
- providing a waveguide cladding surrounding the core;
- providing a first reflector near a first end of the waveguide core;
- providing a second reflector near a second end of the waveguide core, wherein at least the second reflector is an optical grating;
- and
- changing the temperature of at least the second reflector to produce a desired output wavelength.
A method of fabricating a tunable waveguide laser comprising:
- forming a first cladding layer comprised of polymer material on a substrate;
- forming a layer of waveguide core material on the first cladding layer, wherein the waveguide core material is comprised of polymer material and at least one element from the lanthanide series;
- patterning the layer of waveguide core material to form a waveguide core;
- forming a first reflector near a first end of the waveguide core;
- forming a second reflector near a second end of the waveguide core, wherein the second reflector is an optical grating;
- forming a second cladding layer comprised of polymer material over the waveguide core;
- and
- forming at least one temperature control element capable of changing the temperature of at least the second reflector on the second cladding layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.