Optical beam steering for tunable laser applications

摘要

Methods for tuning a transmitter to a selected wavelength are disclosed. A transmitter including a laser array comprising a plurality of lasers spatially offset from one another and each having a laser output having a unique wavelength. A first prism is positioned to impart a first angular shift to the laser outputs to produce and a second prism is positioned to impart a second angular shift opposite the first angular shift on the outputs. An index modulating element is coupled to one of the first and second prisms and a controller is electrically coupled to the index modulating element to control an angle of light output form the second prism. An optical spectrum reshaper may be positioned between the second prism and the lens and have at least one transmission edge aligned with the wavelength at least one of the lasers.

主权项

1. A method for tuning a transmitter to a selected wavelength comprising:
selecting a laser having the selected wavelength within a tunable range thereof from an array of tunable lasers; tuning the selected laser to the selected wavelength; tuning an index of refraction of one of a first prism and a second prism, the first prism positioned to receive an output of the selected laser and the second prism positioned to receive an output of the first prism and to at least partially reverse an angular shift in the output of the first prism relative to the output of the selected laser, an output of the second prism being incident on an optical spectrum reshaper; driving a temperature of the optical spectrum reshaper to an operating temperature at which a transmission function of the optical spectrum reshaper has a transmission edge corresponding to the selected wavelength; frequency modulating the selected laser such that the output of the selected laser is frequency modulated; and transmitting the output of the selected laser through the optical spectrum reshaper configured to at least partially convert frequency modulation in the output of the selected laser to amplitude modulation.