Broadly tunable single longitudinal mode output produced from multi-longitudinal mode seed source

摘要

PCT No. PCT/US95/07189 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 21, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 21, 1996 PCT Filed Jun. 6, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96/08858 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 21, 1996An oscillator system is provided which produces a single mode output from a multimode seed beam and a multimode optical power source. The seed source employed in the oscillator system produces a multimode seed beam that is used to injection seed a multimode optical power source. The optical power source has a short cavity such that the longitudinal modes of the multimode optical power source are sufficiently spaced apart that a mode of the optical power source can be positioned relative to the multimode seed beam such that the beam does not significantly overlap with neighboring longitudinal modes of the optical power source. By positioning a single longitudinal mode to overlap with the seed beam a high energy single longitudinal mode output is produced. The oscillator system preferably includes an output controller loop which serves to center the longitudinal mode output of the optical power source relative to the center of the seed beam. The oscillator system also preferably includes a tuner controller which enables the oscillator system to scan over a series of wavelengths.