TUNABLE FREQUENCY SELECTOR

摘要

The invention relates to laser technology and can be used for producing tunable lasers in the near-infrared range for spectral optical coherence tomography. The proposed tunable frequency selector can be used for a tunable laser having an active resonator with a shortest possible optical length, which resonator comprises the frequency selector, for operation in the generation of a single longitudinal mode in the active resonator. By using the frequency selector as one of the laser mirrors, the number of adjustments to the optical elements in the laser and the cost of said laser are reduced. In order to achieve this, a waveguide is provided upstream of a Fabry-Perot resonator, wherein said waveguide has a mode size of several wavelengths and the modes of the waveguide and the Fabry-Perot resonator partially coincide. The Fabry-Perot resonator may be situated at an angle to the optical axis of the waveguide. The Fabry-Perot resonator may be in the form of two mirrors, at least one of which is convex; or in the form of two mirrors, at least one of which has no radial symmetry. A lens system comprising at least one lens may be provided between the waveguide and the Fabry-Perot resonator. The tunable frequency selector may be in the form of the output mirror of a tunable laser. A lens system comprising at least one lens may be provided downstream of the Fabry-Perot resonator. The tunable frequency selector may be provided with an actuator for adjusting the optical distance between the mirrors of the Fabry-Perot resonator.