System and method for multiple laser sources using high semiconductor optical amplifier extinction

1. A system to combine a wavelength range of the electromagnetic output of a first electromagnetic radiation source and a second electromagnetic radiation source, the system comprising:

the first electromagnetic radiation source configured to output electromagnetic radiation over a first range of wavelengths;

the second electromagnetic radiation source configured to output electromagnetic radiation over a second range of wavelengths;

the first and second electromagnetic radiation sources each comprising a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA); and

a controller coupled to the first and second electromagnetic radiation sources, wherein the controller is adapted to:

control the output of electromagnetic radiation from the first and second electromagnetic radiation sources and tune the wavelength of the outputted electromagnetic radiation;

select the first or second electromagnetic radiation source as a selected radiation source and the other electromagnetic source as a non-selected source;

wherein the selected radiation source outputs electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength selected by the controller, the controller de-powers the semiconductor optical amplifier associated with the non-selected radiation source to place the non-selected radiation source in a deactivated state, and the controller drives the non-selected radiation source to a predetermined wavelength range wherein the semiconductor optical amplifier extinction ratio is optimized for depowering.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first range of wavelengths and the second of wavelengths at least partially overlap.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first range of wavelengths and the second range of wavelengths are non-overlapping.

4. The system of claim 1 , further including a switch operably coupled between the first and second electromagnetic radiation sources and the controller, wherein the switch is configured to provide power to one of the first electromagnetic radiation source or the second electromagnetic radiation source at a given time.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation sources are semiconductor lasers.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation sources are sample grating distributed Bragg reflector (SG-DBR) lasers.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an interferometer coupled to the first and second electromagnetic radiation source, wherein the interferometer includes a reference path and a sample path.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a detector for receiving electromagnetic radiation returned from the reference path and the sample path, wherein the detector generates output signals corresponding to the received electromagnetic radiation.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the output signals are processed to generate image signals over the first range of wavelengths and the second range of wavelengths.

10. A method for passively combining the output of a first electromagnetic radiation source over a first wavelength range and a second electromagnetic radiation source over a second wavelength range into a single sweep encompassing the combined wavelength range of the first and second electromagnetic radiation sources, the method comprising:

selecting the first or second electromagnetic source as a selected radiation source and the other electromagnetic source as a non-selected source;

de-powering a semiconductor optical amplifier associated with the non-selected radiation source;

driving the non-selected radiation source to a predetermined wavelength range wherein the semiconductor optical amplifier extinction ratio is optimized for depowering;

generating electromagnetic radiation through the range of wavelengths with the selected radiation source;

alternating the selected radiation source and the non-selected radiation source;

de-powering the semiconductor optical amplifier associated with the non-selected radiation source;

driving the non-selected radiation source to the predetermined wavelength range wherein the semiconductor optical amplifier extinction ratio is optimized for depowering;

generating electromagnetic radiation through the range of wavelengths with the selected radiation source.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising splitting the electromagnetic radiation through the reference path and the sample path.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising detecting electromagnetic radiation returned from the reference path and the sample path, wherein the detector generates output signals corresponding to the received electromagnetic radiation.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising processing the output signals corresponding to the first range of wavelengths and the second range of wavelengths to generate an image.

14. A system to combine a wavelength range of the electromagnetic output of a first electromagnetic radiation source and a second electromagnetic radiation source, the system comprising:

the first electromagnetic radiation source configured to output electromagnetic radiation over a first range of wavelengths;

the second electromagnetic radiation source configured to output electromagnetic radiation over a second range of wavelengths;

the first and second electromagnetic radiation source each comprising a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA);

an interferometer coupled to the first and second electromagnetic radiation source, wherein the interferometer includes a reference path and a sample path;

a detector for receiving electromagnetic radiation returned from the reference path and the sample path, wherein the detector generates output signals corresponding to the received electromagnetic radiation; and

a controller coupled to the detector and the first and second electromagnetic radiation sources, wherein the controller is adapted to:

control the output of electromagnetic radiation from the first and second electromagnetic radiation sources and tune the wavelength of the outputted electromagnetic radiation;

select the first or second electromagnetic source as a selected radiation source and the other electromagnetic source as a non-selected source;

wherein the selected radiation source outputs electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength selected by the controller, the controller de-powers the semiconductor optical amplifier associated with the non-selected radiation source to place the non-selected radiation source in a deactivated state, and the controller drives the non-selected radiation source to a predetermined wavelength range wherein the semiconductor optical amplifier extinction ratio is optimized for depowering.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first range of wavelengths and the second of wavelengths at least partially overlap.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first range of wavelengths and the second range of wavelengths are non-overlapping.

17. The system of claim 14 , further including a switch operably coupled between the first and second electromagnetic radiation sources and the controller, wherein the switch is configured to provide power to one of the first electromagnetic radiation source or the second electromagnetic radiation source at a given time.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation sources are semiconductor lasers.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation sources are sample grating distributed Bragg reflector (SG-DBR) lasers.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller processes the output signals to generate image signals over the first range of wavelengths and the second range of wavelengths.