Apparatus and method for adjusting external-cavity lasers

A tunable external cavity laser, comprising:

• a light source;
• a converging lens located to receive light from the light source;
• a tuning mirror;
• a pivoting arm on which the tuning mirror is mounted;
• and
• a mount including:
• a base,
• a main body bounded in part by two plane, external surfaces orthogonal to a common reference plane and angularly separated from one another by an angle,
• a reflecting surface having a spatial orientation defined by one of the external surfaces, the reflecting surface arranged to receive light from the lens,
• a diffracting surface having a spatial orientation defined by the other of the external surfaces, the diffracting surface diffracting light received from the reflecting surface towards the tuning mirror, and
• a hinge located opposite the angle and parallel to the reference plane, the hinge coupling the main body to the base.

A method for aligning an external-cavity laser, the method comprising:

• providing a mount including a main body bounded in part by two plane external surfaces orthogonal to a common reference plane and angularly separated from one another by an angle;
• providing a reflecting surface and a diffracting surface;
• defining a spatial orientation of the reflecting surface by one of the external surfaces;
• defining a spatial orientation of the diffracting surface with the other of the external surfaces;
• and
• tilting the main body about an axis disposed non-orthogonally to at least one of the external surfaces to differentially change pitch angle of a light beam serially reflected by the reflecting surface and diffracted by the diffracting surface.