EXTERNAL CAVITY WIDELY TUNABLE LASER USING A SILICON RESONATOR AND MICROMECHANICALLY ADJUSTABLE COUPLING

摘要

A widely tunable laser is described where a compound semiconductor gain chip is coupled to a waveguide filter fabricated on silicon. The filter has two resonators with different free-spectral-ranges, such that Vernier tuning between the filters can be used to provide a single wavelength of light feedback into the gain chip, where the wavelength is adjustable over a wide range. The coupling between the gain chip and the filter is realized through a microlens whose position can be adjusted using micromechanics and locked in place.