| 摘要 |
Switchable power combining is provided using a tunable arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) as the combining element. The AWG has two or more inputs and two or more outputs. Each AWG input is bi-directionally coupled to a corresponding laser source, and each laser source has substantially the same gain spectrum. All sources are coupled to a selected one of the AWG outputs, without substantial coupling of the sources to any other AWG output. The AWG is tunable, such that any one of its outputs can be thus selected. The selected output provides optical feedback, thereby feedback stabilizing the emission wavelengths of the sources to values suitable for single-mode combining. According to a further aspect of the invention, a piezo-electrically tunable AWG is provided. The AWG has a piezo-electric transducer bonded to the waveguide array section of the AWG. Strain induced in the waveguide array by the transducer can alter optical path lengths of the waveguide, thereby tuning the AWG.
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