Wavelength selective and tunable laser device

A method for tuning a laser device operable in a single-wavelength lasing mode, comprising:

• passing an optical emission from a multi-mode laser of the laser device to a feedback portion of the laser device, the laser comprising a channel waveguide, wherein a spectrum of the optical emission peaks at a plurality of discrete wavelengths;
• reflecting a portion of the optical emission from the feedback portion to the laser, the feedback portion comprising an optical etalon and a reflective surface, wherein the reflected portion of the optical emission includes the optical emission at one or more maxima transmission wavelengths Of a transmission spectrum of the optical etalon;
• and
• tuning a lasing wavelength of the laser device by locally adjusting a refractive index of the channel waveguide to adjust the spectrum of the optical emission.

A laser device operable in a single-wavelength lasing mode at a selectable and tunable lasing wavelength, comprising:

• a multi-mode laser comprising a channel waveguide, wherein the laser generates an optical emission having a spectrum that peaks at a plurality of discrete wavelengths;
• a feedback portion comprising an optical etalon and a reflective surface arranged to provide wavelength selective feedback to the laser to generate a beam of laser light at a lasing wavelength selected from the plurality of discrete wavelengths;
• and
• a wavelength tuning structure disposed proximate to the optical etalon to provide tuning of the lasing wavelength by locally adjusting a refractive index of the optical etalon to adjust a transmission spectrum of the optical emission,
• wherein the wavelength tuning structure adjusts the transmission spectrum of the optical etalon to overlap the spectrum of the optical emission at the lasing wavelength.