LIGHT GENERATION METHOD AND LIGHT SOURCE

摘要

The present invention provides a light generation method and a light source that are preferable in obtaining a single-mode light having high outputs, a small wavelength spectral bandwidth, and a low intensity noise. A white output from a white-light source and having wavelength components over a wide-band in a wavelength spectrum passes through an isolator and is then filtered by a disc-shaped optical filter. A transmitted light is input to a semiconductor optical amplifier having its polarization plane regulated by a polarization controller. An output from the amplifier passes through an isolator and is then filtered by a disc-shaped optical filter again to generate a single-mode light having a small spectral bandwidth and high outputs. Polarization control by the polarization controller corresponds to control of the polarization plane of a semiconductor laser in the semiconductor optical amplifier so as to obtain a maximum gain from the amplifier. This configuration enables a single-mode light having a small spectral bandwidth and high outputs to be easily generated at an arbitrary wavelength.