| 摘要 |
<p><P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wavelength scanning light source of a simple configuration using a distributed reflector type semiconductor laser, capable of scanning wavelength at high speed, and to provide a wavelength scanning optical coherence tomographic apparatus using the light source. <P>SOLUTION: The wavelength scanning light source contains the distributed reflector type semiconductor laser having an active region and a distributed reflector region including a passive waveguide layer and current blocks on a semiconductor substrate. The current blocks are made of a material showing a refraction factor approximately equal to that of the surrounding portion when a current is not applied and harder to flow current than the surrounding portion. The current blocks are arranged so that their intervals vary gradually in the waveguide direction of the passive waveguide layer. When current is applied, the current blocks spatially vary the density of the current crossing the passive waveguide layer regularly by their current regulating action to produce regions whose refraction factor varies spatially and regularly in the passive waveguide layer. As the result, light coming from the active region laser-oscillates at a wavelength in accordance with the spatial regularity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT</p> |
