FREQUENCY TUNABLE LASER SYSTEM

摘要

There is provided a frequency tunable laser system (1) comprising a laser, frequency varying means (6) arranged for varying an optical frequency output of the laser (2), an intensity sensor (7m) arranged for receiving light (5b) from the laser (2), and a processor (8) arranged for controlling the frequency varying means (6) for varying the optical frequency output of the laser (2) and receiving an intensity signal (Sm) from the intensity sensor (7m) for monitoring the intensity output of the laser (2). The frequency tunable laser system (1) further comprises an external reflective surface (9), in use, fixedly arranged in a light path of the laser beam (5) outside the laser cavity (9) at a predefined distance (L) from the second reflective surface (2b) along the light path of the laser beam (5) to reflect part (5') of the emitted laser beam (5) back into the laser cavity (9). The processor (8) is further arranged for processing the intensity signal (Sm) and registering oscillations of the intensity output (I) caused by interference of the reflected part (5') of the laser beam (5) in the cavity (9) and responsive to a change in optical frequency and calculating the change in optical frequency output from the registered oscillations of the intensity output and predefined distance (L).