Optical source with mode reshaping

An optical source comprising:

• an array of first optical reflectors;
• an array of second optical reflectors aligned with corresponding ones of said first optical reflectors to define an array of resonating structures;
• an array of multimode laser exciters disposed in each one of said resonating structures;
• an array of integrated optical mode filter structures in optical paths defined by said resonating structures, the integrated optical mode filter structures each comprising:
• mode reshaping means having a first port and a second port, said first port coupled to a matching multimode port of a corresponding said multimode laser exciter;
• and
• a waveguide means, said waveguide means coupled to said second port, said waveguide means for supporting a different mode structure than mode structure of said corresponding optically active medium means;
• and
• means for extracting coherent optical energy from each one of said optical paths passing through each one of said mode reshaping means.

A mode-filtered optical source comprising:

• a multimode laser amplifier disposed in an optical path;
• and
• an integrated optical mode filter structure in said optical path, the integrated optical mode filter structure comprising:
• mode reshaping means having a first port and a second port, said first port coupled to a matching multimode port of said multimode laser amplifier;
• and
• a waveguide means, said waveguide coupled to said second port, said waveguide means for supporting a different mode structure than mode structure of said multimode laser amplifier.

A frequency-converted diode laser source comprising:

• a wide-stripe multimode laser diode element;
• a ferroelectric harmonic generator having a waveguide for receiving light of a first frequency at an input end from said wide-stripe multimode laser diode element and emitting light of a second frequency at an output end thereof, said second frequency of light being a harmonic of said first frequency of light, and ferroelectric harmonic generator generating said light of said second frequency from said light of said first frequency;
• integrated mode reshaping means having a first port and a second port, said first port coupled to a matching multimode port of said multimode laser diode element, wherein said waveguide means is coupled to said second port, said waveguide means supporting a different mode structure than mode structure of said multimode laser diode element;
• said ferroelectric-harmonic generator also having a periodic reflector positioned along said waveguide and tuned to partially reflect light of said first frequency back toward and out of said input end;
• said laser diode element being optically coupled via said integrated mode reshaping means to said waveguide means of said ferroelectric harmonic generator;
• said laser diode element including active gain means for generating light of said first frequency, second cavity reflector associated with a back facet of said laser diode and a low reflection coated light emitting front facet through which light of said first frequency generated by said active gain means is directed toward said ferroelectric-harmonic generator;
• said periodic reflector in said ferrelectric-harmonic generator and said second cavity reflector associated with said back facet of said laser diode element establishing a resonant optical cavity for light of said first frequency such that feedback provided by said periodic reflector stabilizes the laser output to obtain efficient frequency conversion.

A single-mode laser comprising within an optical cavity:

• an optical gain medium means for serving as a source of a multimode laser signal;
• a single-mode waveguide means for filtering said laser signal to a single transverse mode with minimal loss at a fundamental transverse mode, said waveguide means comprising an enhanced refractive index material region, said material region having a spatial dimension and refractive index profile transverse of an optical path supporting only a single transverse mode of a multimode laser signal;
• and
• means for coupling said laser signal source to said waveguide means with minimal reflection and minimal loss;
• wherein said gain medium means, said coupling means and said waveguide means are disposed between a first primary laser signal reflector and a second primary laser signal reflector.