Optically tunable Fabry-Perot micro-electromechanical resonator

摘要

A tunable optical resonator whose resonance frequency is determined by a light signal introduced into the resonator. The resonator includes an optical cavityÄ10, 306Ü having a first mirrorÄ13Ü and a second mirrorÄ14Ü. The first mirrorÄ13Ü and second mirrorÄ14Ü are supported relative to one another such that the distance between the first and second mirrors may be altered by applying a force to said second mirrorÄ14Ü thereby altering the resonance frequency of said cavity. The resonator includes a light input portÄ13Ü for receiving a tuning light signal, and a light signal generator for generating the tuning light sourceÄ302Ü. The tuning light signal is introduced into the optical cavityÄ10,306Ü such that the tuning light signal is reflected between the first and second mirrors. In the absence of the tuning light signal, the resonator has a resonance characterized by a resonance response curve centered at lambda 0. The tuning light signal has a wavelength lambda 1 within said resonance response curve and sufficient power to cause said resonance response curve to shift such that the resonance response curve is now centered at lambda 2, where lambda 2> lambda 1. In one embodiment of the invention, a circuitÄ403Ü for monitoring the light leaving the resonator is utilized to control the wavelength and/or amplitude of the tuning light signal such that the light leaving the resonator has a predetermined wavelength. <IMAGE>