Thermally wavelength tunable lasers
View Patent ↗Embodiments of wavelength tunable lasers are disclosed. The wavelength tunable lasers include thermo-optic organic material that has an index of refraction that can quickly vary in response to changes in temperature. By controlling the temperature in the thermo-optic organic material through the use of heaters or coolers, the wavelength tunable lasers and the integrated optical components can be quickly and selectively tuned over a broad range of wavelengths with high spectral selectivity.
1. A tunable laser, comprising:
a gain medium having an active emission layer to generate optical energy, the active emission layer having a first and a second facet;
a first waveguide extending from the first facet, the first waveguide including a first core, the first core having a first end adjacent to the first facet for receiving optical energy, the first core fabricated from inorganic material and the first waveguide including inorganic material and thermo-optical organic material surrounding the first core;
a second waveguide extending from the second facet, the second waveguide including a second core, the second core having a first end adjacent to the second facet for receiving optical energy, the second core fabricated from inorganic material and the second waveguide including inorganic material and thermo-optical organic material surrounding the second core;
a substrate supporting the first waveguide, the second waveguide, and the gain means;
a first reflector positioned to reflect optical energy propagating along the first waveguide if the optical energy has a wavelength that is one of a plurality of first reflection wavelengths;
a second reflector positioned to reflect optical energy propagating along the second waveguide if the optical energy has a wavelength that is one of plurality of second reflection wavelengths;
a thermo-optical organic material positioned to shift the plurality of first and second reflection wavelengths in response to changes of temperature in the thermo-optical organic material; and
a first thermal actuator thermally coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material.
2. The tunable laser of claim 1 wherein the first waveguide includes a reflector-free portion interposed between the first end of the first core and the first reflector, the reflector-free portion including a phase control section.
3. The tunable laser of claim 2 further comprising thermo-optical organic material positioned in proximity to the phase control section.
4. The tunable laser of claim 3 wherein the thermo-optical organic material has a coefficient of refractive index variation as a function of temperature, the magnitude of which exceeds 1×10 −4 /° C.
5. The tunable laser of claim 3 wherein the thermo-optical organic material is selected from the group comprising a polymer derived from methacrylate, a polymer derived from siloxane, a polymer derived from carbonate, a polymer derived from styrene, a polymer derived from cyclic olefin, and a polymer derived from norbornene.
6. The tunable laser of claim 1 wherein the first thermal actuator is selected from the group comprising a resistive heater, a thermoelectric heater, and a thermoelectric cooler.
7. The tunable laser of claim 3 wherein the first thermal actuator is coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material adjacent to the phase control section, and further comprising:
a second thermal actuator is coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material adjacent to the first reflector; and
a third thermal actuator is coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material adjacent to the second reflector.
8. A tunable hybrid laser, comprising:
a substrate fabricated of a first material;
a gain medium fabricated of a second material and mounted onto the substrate, the gain medium including an active emission layer to generate optical energy, the active emission layer having a first and a second facet;
a first waveguide disposed on the substrate and extending from the first facet, the first waveguide including a first core, the first core having a first end adjacent to the first facet for receiving optical energy, the first core fabricated from inorganic material and the first waveguide including inorganic material and thermo-optical organic material surrounding the first core;
a first reflector positioned to reflect optical energy propagating along the first waveguide if the optical energy has a wavelength that is one of a plurality of first reflection wavelengths;
a second waveguide disposed on the substrate and extending from the second facet, the second waveguide including a second core, the second core having a first end adjacent to the second facet for receiving optical energy, the second core fabricated from inorganic material and the second waveguide including inorganic material and thermo-optical organic material surrounding the second core;
a second reflector positioned to reflect optical energy propagating along the second waveguide if the optical energy has a wavelength that is one of a plurality of second reflection wavelengths;
a thermo-optical organic material positioned to shift the plurality of first and second reflection wavelengths in response to changes of temperature in the thermo-optical organic material; and
a first thermal actuator thermally coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material.
9. The tunable hybrid laser of claim 8 wherein the first waveguide includes a reflector-free portion interposed between the first end of the first core and the first reflector, the reflector-free portion including a phase control section.
10. The tunable hybrid laser of claim 9 further comprising thermo-optical organic material positioned in proximity to the phase control sections.
11. The tunable hybrid laser of claim 8 wherein the first thermal actuator is selected from the group comprising a resistive heater, a thermoelectric heater, and a thermoelectric cooler.
12. The tunable hybrid laser of claim 9 wherein the first thermal actuator is coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material adjacent to the phase control section, and further comprising:
a second thermal actuator is coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material adjacent to the first reflector; and
a third thermal actuator is coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material adjacent to the second reflector.
13. The tunable hybrid laser of claim 8 wherein the first material is selected from the group comprising sapphire, gallium arsenide, indium phosphide, silicon, glass, ceramic, and metal.
14. The tunable hybrid laser of claim 8 wherein the second material is selected from the group comprising sapphire, gallium arsenide, and indium phosphide.
15. A tunable laser, comprising:
a gain medium including an active emission layer to generate optical energy, the active emission layer having a facet;
a waveguide extending from the facet, the waveguide including a core, the core having an end adjacent to the facet for receiving optical energy, the core fabricated from inorganic material and the waveguide including inorganic material and thermo-optical organic material surrounding the core;
a substrate supporting the gain medium and the waveguide;
a reflector positioned to reflect optical energy propagating along the waveguide if the optical energy has a wavelength that is one of a plurality of reflection wavelengths;
thermo-optical organic material positioned to shift the plurality of reflection wavelengths in response to changes of temperature in the thermo-optical organic material; and
a first thermal actuator thermally coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material.
16. The tunable laser of claim 15 wherein the waveguide includes a reflector-free portion interposed between the end and the reflector, the reflector-free portion including a phase control section.
17. The tunable laser of claim 16 further comprising thermo-optical organic material positioned in proximity to the phase control section.
18. The tunable laser of claim 17 wherein the thermo-optical organic material has a coefficient of refractive index variation as a function of temperature, the magnitude of which exceeds 1×10 −4 /° C.
19. The tunable laser of claim 17 wherein the thermo-optical organic material is selected from the group comprising a polymer derived from methacrylate, a polymer derived from a siloxane, a polymer derived from carbonate, a polymer derived from styrene, a polymer derived from cyclic olefin, and a polymer derived from norbornene.
20. The tunable laser of claim 15 wherein the first thermal actuator is selected from the group comprising a resistive heater, a thermoelectric heater, and a thermoelectric cooler.
21. The tunable laser of claim 16 wherein the first thermal actuator is coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material adjacent to the phase control section, and further comprising:
a second thermal actuator is coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material adjacent to the first reflector; and
a third thermal actuator is coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material adjacent to the second reflector.
22. The tunable laser of claim 15 wherein the core further comprise a taper adjacent to the first end for receiving optical energy.
23. An integrated optical component, comprising:
a waveguide disposed on a substrate and including a core having an end for receiving optical energy, the core fabricated from inorganic material and the waveguide including an inorganic material and thermo-optical organic material surrounding the core;
a first reflector positioned to reflect optical energy propagating along the waveguide if the optical energy has a wavelength that is one of a plurality of first reflection wavelengths;
a second reflector positioned to reflect optical energy propagating along the waveguide if the optical energy has a wavelength that is one of plurality of second reflection wavelengths;
thermo-optical organic material positioned to shift the plurality of first and second reflection wavelengths in response to changes of temperature in the thermo-optical organic material; and
a thermal actuator coupled to change the temperature in the thermo-optical organic material.
24. The integrated optical component of claim 23 wherein the waveguide includes a reflector-free portion interposed between the end and the first reflector and between the first reflector and the second reflector, the reflector-free portions including a phase control section.
25. The integrated optical component of claim 24 further comprising thermo-optical organic material positioned in proximity to the phase control sections.