Externally referenced wavelength-locking technique for hybrid lasers

A hybrid laser, comprising:

• a reflective gain medium (RGM) comprising an optical gain material coupled with an associated reflector;
• a phase tuner coupled to an output of the RGM;
• a laser ring filter coupled to an output of the phase tuner;
• a silicon mirror optically coupled to the laser ring filter;
• wherein the RGM, the phase tuner, the laser ring filter and the silicon mirror collectively form a lasing cavity for the hybrid laser;
• a reference ring filter optically coupled to a reference laser and to the laser ring filter;
• and
• a controller that controls the hybrid laser to lock a wavelength of the hybrid laser to a wavelength of the reference laser by performing the following operations,
• while the hybrid laser is turned off, tuning the reference ring filter to the wavelength of the reference laser;
• turning on the hybrid laser;
• tuning the laser ring filter to the reference ring filter;
• and
• adjusting the phase tuner to align a lasing cavity mode of the hybrid laser with the tuned laser ring filter.

A system, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor;
• and
• a laser source for communicating optical signals generated by the system, wherein the laser source includes:
• a reflective gain medium (RGM) comprising an optical gain material coupled with an associated reflector;
• a phase tuner coupled to an output of the RGM;
• a laser ring filter coupled to an output of the phase tuner;
• a silicon mirror optically coupled to the laser ring filter;
• wherein the RGM, the phase tuner, the laser ring filter and the silicon mirror collectively form a lasing cavity for the hybrid laser;
• a reference ring filter optically coupled to a reference laser and to the laser ring filter;
• and
• a controller that controls the hybrid laser to lock a wavelength of the hybrid laser to a wavelength of the reference laser by performing the following operations,
• while the hybrid laser is turned off, tuning the reference ring filter to the wavelength of the reference laser;
• turning on the hybrid laser;
• tuning the laser ring filter to the reference ring filter;
• and
• adjusting the phase tuner to align a lasing cavity mode of the hybrid laser with the tuned laser ring filter.