Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Ralf Haeussler

Emmerich Mueller

Wolf Steffens

Bernd Nebendahl

Ulrich Kallmann

Michael Schubert

A wavelength tunable laser unit has a laser mode selection, and is adapted to provide a laser signal in accordance with one or more laser control parameters. For operating the laser unit, the laser signal is swept in a wavelength range, a laser operation signal indicative of the laser unit's operation during the sweep is received, and the laser operation signal is analyzed for detecting an indication of a mode hop occurred in the generated laser signals during the sweep. At least one correction value is determined based on the detected mode hop indication, and at least one of the one or more laser control parameters, applicable for a next wavelength sweep, is modified based on the determined at least one correction value.

Wavelength tunable laser source with parameter correction

An apparatus and to a method of monitoring an interferometer, comprising the steps of: coupling a first optical signal into the interferometer and into a wavelength reference element, detecting a first resulting interference signal being a result of interference of parts of the first optical signal in the interferometer, detecting a resulting reference signal of the wavelength reference element, the resulting reference signal being a result of interaction of the first optical signal with the wavelength reference element, and comparing the first resulting interference signal with the resulting reference signal to detect a drift of the interferometer, if any.

Method and apparatus for monitoring an interferometer

The invention relates to a method of tuning a laser, comprising the steps of: providing a laser beam to an external cavity, the laser beam traveling through material along a path between a cavity end element and a tuning element, the path having an optical path length, selecting at least one mode of the laser by introducing a dispersion element in the path of the laser, rotating the tuning element about a pivot axis theoretically defined by the intersection of the surface planes of the cavity end element, the dispersion element and the tuning element to tune the laser, changing the optical path length of the path in order to at least partly compensate a shift between the real position of the pivot axis and the theoretically defined position.

Growing community of inventors

Dresden, Germany

Ralf Haeussler