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| Technology Profile |
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Title: TUNABLE VERTICAL CAVITY LASER
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Industry: Computer Hardware
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| Owner: University of California, Santa Barbara |
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Description:
BACKGROUND: Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) have been used to implement tunable lasers by using a single active region and by tuning the resonance of the optical cavity incorporating that active region. However, lasers produced by these methods possess a limited wavelength range, as well as output power due to the limited bandwidth of the gain region.
DESCRIPTION: Scientists at the University of California have developed a novel tunable Vertical-Cavity Tunable laser by using a two-dimensional (2-D) array of variable wavelength VCSELs.
APPLICATIONS: This new UC invention has several applications, such as:
- fiber optic networks;
- instrumentation lasers;
- optical spectroscopy.
ADVANTAGES: The new UC technology provides the following benefits:
- Eliminates fundamental limits to the wavelength range, except for those imposed by chromatic dispersion of the collimating optics, and in the case of optically-pumped VCSEL elements, the chosen pump wavelength;
- The pump laser can be separately optimized for high-power emission and reliability, and its excess heat can be located remotely from the 2-D VCSEL array;
- A movable mirror allows separate optimization of the VCSEL and mirror performance since the movable mirror is not part of the optical cavity of the VCSEL;
- Multiple, individually addressable and optimized VCSEL elements can be coupled into a common fiber.
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Download Available: NCD_2001-462
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Contact Info
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Manager: Ashwin Ravikumar
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Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara
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Email: (email this person)
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Phone Number: 805-893-5150
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