Title :
Single-Mode and Mode-Hop-Free Wavelength Sweep Light Source With Range of Over 160 nm and High Swept Frequency
Author :
Nakamura, Kenichi ; Morimoto, Shintaro ; Nakayama, Takashi
Author_Institution :
Opt. Module Dev. Dept., Anritsu Device Corp., Atsugi, Japan
Abstract :
This letter describes a single-mode and mode-hop-free wavelength sweep light source that uses a micromachined scanning mirror. The light source has a wavelength sweep range of over 160 nm in the 1.55 μm band and the repeatability of output power level of less than ±0.05 dB. The swept frequency is 307.8 Hz, and the frequency can be changed by use of a scanning mirror with a different mechanical resonance frequency. A tunable laser source was measured by a heterodyne interferometer that uses the wavelength sweep light source and it was confirmed that the side mode suppression ratio of the wavelength sweep light source was more than 50 dB.
Keywords :
laser cavity resonators; laser modes; light interferometry; light sources; mirrors; semiconductor lasers; heterodyne interferometer; mechanical resonance frequency; micromachined scanning mirror; mode-hop-free wavelength sweep light source; side mode suppression ratio; single-mode wavelength sweep light source; swept frequency; tunable laser source; wavelength 160 nm; Frequency; Laser modes; Light sources; Mirrors; Optical fiber sensors; Optical fibers; Optical filters; Optical interferometry; Optical mixing; Optical sensors; Power generation; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers; Wavelength measurement; External cavity laser; micromachined scanning mirror; mode-hop-free; optical fiber sensing; optical metrology; optical profilometry; wavelength sweep light source (WSLS);
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LPT.2010.2062499
