Frequency tunable light sources and methods of generating frequency-tunable light

摘要

Frequency-tunable light sources and methods of generating frequency-tunable light are described. In one aspect, a frequency-tunable light source (10) includes a resonant optical cavity (12), an optical gain medium (18), an optical mode filter (20), and a mode frequency tuner (22). The resonant optical cavity (12) supports oscillation of light in at least one longitudinal mode having a respective mode frequency. The optical gain medium (18) is disposed in the resonant optical cavity (12) and is operable to amplify light. The optical mode filter (20) is arranged to intercept light oscillating in the resonant optical cavity (12) and has an optical transmission pass-band with a tunable center frequency. The mode frequency tuner (22) is arranged to intercept light oscillating in the resonant optical cavity (12) and is operable to tunably change the mode frequencies of the at least one longitudinal mode of the resonant optical cavity (12). In another aspect, a resonant optical cavity (12) is provided. The resonant optical cavity (12) supports oscillation of light in at least one longitudinal mode having a respective mode frequency. Light in at least one longitudinal mode in the resonant optical cavity (12) is amplified. The mode frequencies of the resonant optical cavity (12) are changed. The light is transmission band-pass filtered.