Method and apparatus for waveguide optics and devices

A laser component comprising:

• a glass substrate, at least a portion of which is doped with a laser species, the substrate having a plurality of optical waveguides defined by channels within the substrate, including a first waveguide and a second waveguide, wherein the channels are formed at or near a surface of the substrate as regions of increased refractive index;
• a first wavelength-selective surface-relief grating feedback element optically coupled to the first waveguide, the first grating having a first physical periodicity spacing as measured along a length of the first waveguide as it crosses the first grating such that the first waveguide forms a laser-resonator cavity with a first lasing wavelength when pumped;
• and
• a second wavelength-selective surface-relief grating feedback element optically coupled to the second waveguide, the second grating having a second physical periodicity spacing as measured along a length of the second waveguide as it crosses the second grating such that the second waveguide forms a laser-resonator cavity with a second lasing wavelength, different than the first lasing wavelength, when pumped, wherein the first grating and the second grating are both formed from a single series of parallel lines having a first spacing as measured perpendicular to the single series of parallel lines, and the first waveguide crosses the single series of parallel lines at a first angle, and the second waveguide crosses the single series of parallel lines at a second angle different than the first angle.

A method for lasing on a glass substrate comprising:

• pumping light in each of a plurality of optical waveguides defined by channels within the substrate, including a first waveguide and a second waveguide, wherein the channels are formed at or near a surface of the substrate as regions of increased refractive index;
• coupling output light into a first output optical fiber in a holder from a selectable one of the plurality of waveguides to obtain a desired output wavelength;
• reflecting light with a first wavelength-selective grating optically coupled to the first waveguide, the first grating having a first physical periodicity spacing as measured along a length of the first wavfeguide as it crosses the first grating, the first waveguide lasing with a first lasing wavelength when pumped;
• and
• reflecting light with a second wavelength-selective grating optically coupled to the second waveguide, the second grating having a first physical periodicity spacing as measured along a length of the second waveguide as it crosses the second grating such that the second waveguide lasing with a second lasing wavelength, different than the first lasing wavelength, when pumped,
• wherein the first output optical fiber is coupled to the first waveguide if the first lasing wavelength is the desired output wavelength and is instead coupled to the second waveguide if the second lasing wavelength is the desired output wavelength.

A method for lasing on a glass substrate comprising:

• pumping light in each of a plurality of optical waveguides defined by channels within the substrate, including a first waveguide and a second waveguide, wherein the channels are formed at or near a surface of the substrate as regions of increased refractive index;
• reflecting light with a first wavelength-selective grating optically coupled to the first waveguide, the first grating having a first physical periodicity spacing as measured along a length of the first waveguide as it crosses the first grating, the first waveguide lasing with a first lasing wavelength when pumped;
• and
• reflecting light with a second wavelength-selective grating optically coupled to the second waveguide, the second grating having a first physical periodicity spacing as measured along a length of the second waveguide as it crosses the second grating such that the second waveguide lasing with a second lasing wavelength, different than the first lasing wavelength, when pumped, wherein the first grating and the second grating are both formed from a single series of parallel lines having a first spacing as measured perpendicular to the single series of parallel lines, and the first waveguide crosses the single series of parallel lines at a first angle, and the second waveguide crosses the single series of parallel lines at a second angle different than the first angle.