Multi-wavelength laser usable for WDM applications and interferometric sensors
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorJames A. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-wavelength laser (10) includes an optical loop (20) having a single optical cavity that supports a plurality of longitudinal modes, wherein the optical loop has a common gain medium (25) to supply the necessary optical gain to provide for a plurality of lasing longitudinal modes at a plurality of lasing wavelengths. A wavelength selector (30) is insertable into the optical loop within the optical path for selecting at least one lasing longitudinal mode (35) from the plurality of longitudinal modes. Although not exclusively, the multi-wavelength laser (10) is usable for WDM interferometric sensing (240).
Claims20
A method for laser synthesizing a plurality of different wavelengths, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a laser having a common gain medium in a resonant path for receiving and exiting a pump energy and having a continuity between a plurality of reflectors having a common reflector for supporting a plurality of optical wavelengths pumped by the pump energy that share the common reflector
- selecting at least one optical wavelength from the plurality of optical wavelengths between one of the plurality of reflectors and the common reflector;
- and
- referencing said at least one optical wavelength to an internal or external reference source.
A multi-wavelength laser comprising:
- a resonant path that receives and exits a pump energy and having a continuity between a plurality of reflectors for resonating a plurality of longitudinal modes for multiple lasing oscillations, wherein the resonant path has a common reflector out of the plurality of reflectors and a common gain medium to supply the necessary optical gain and pump energy to provide for a plurality of lasing longitudinal modes at a plurality of lasing wavelengths that share the common reflector;
- and
- a wavelength selector that is insertable into the resonant path between one of the plurality of reflectors and the common reflector for selecting at least one lasing longitudinal mode from the plurality of longitudinal modes.
A multi-wavelength laser comprising:
- a resonant path bounded by a plurality of reflectors that supports a plurality of longitudinal modes for multiple lasing oscillations, wherein the resonant path has a common reflector out of the plurality of reflectors and a common gain spectrum to supply the necessary optical gain to provide for a plurality of lasing longitudinal modes at a plurality of lasing wavelengths that share the common reflector;
- a combiner having an output port, a first input port and a second input port, wherein the first input port receives a pump energy, the output port is coupled to the common reflector for forming a first end of the common gain medium of the resonant path, and the second input port is coupled into another portion of the resonant path for the combiner to combine the pump energy with the plurality of lasing longitudinal modes and each mode being capable of lasing at a respective lasing wavelength when pumped by the pump energy, whereby lasing light is emittable from respective each one of the lasing longitudinal modes;
- a wavelength selector that is insertable into the resonant path between one of the plurality of reflectors and the common reflector for selecting at least one lasing longitudinal mode from the plurality of longitudinal modes;
- and
- a wavelength separator coupled to another one of the plurality of reflectors to form a second end of the common gain medium for providing a first port outside of the resonant path and a second port for the plurality of longitudinal modes to loop back into the resonant path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.