Stabilisation and control of widely tunable MG-Y lasers with integrated photodetectors

Author

Laroy, R. ; Morthier, G. ; Mullane, T. ; Todd, M. ; Baets, R.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Inf. Technol., Ghent Univ. IMEC, Gent

Volume

1

Issue

1

fYear

2007

fDate

2/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

35

Lastpage

38

Abstract

The control and stabilisation of a widely tunable modulated grating Y-branch (MG-Y) laser are discussed. A characterisation algorithm will be introduced, which produces for each standardised frequency a good operating point with a very small deviation from the wanted output frequency (plusmn2 GHz) and power (plusmn0.2 dB). In addition, a new stabilisation feedback scheme will be presented, which makes use of an external etalon for frequency stabilisation (a wavelength locker) and integrated photodetectors for mode stabilisation. This scheme guarantees that the laser continues operating at the wanted frequency even when the tuning sections degrade or when environmental conditions change. Thanks to those stabilisation algorithms, the lifetime of the device is greatly extended, in case of degrading tuning sections

Keywords

diffraction gratings; integrated optics; laser stability; laser tuning; optical control; photodetectors; semiconductor lasers; characterisation algorithm; degrading tuning sections; external etalon; integrated photodetectors; laser diode; mode stabilisation; operating point; stabilisation feedback scheme; widely tunable MG-Y lasers; widely tunable modulated grating Y-branch laser control; widely tunable modulated grating Y-branch laser stabilisation;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Optoelectronics, IET

Publisher

iet

ISSN

1751-8768

Type

jour

DOI

10.1049/iet-opt:20050093

Filename

4117441