Spectalis Corp

Stéphanie Marie-Julie Jetté

Pierre Simon Joseph Berini

Guy Philippe Gagnon

An external-cavity laser, suitable for producing a coherent and highly-polarized optical emission, particularly at communication wavelengths, is enabled by a novel wavelength selective element based on a waveguide technology that supports a long-range plasmons polariton mode. These external-cavity lasers leverage the inherent properties of the novel wavelength selective elements, which are materials agnostic, providing easier means for tunability, laser stability, and low cost of fabrication, high output power and a highly polarized output. Tunable versions are also disclosed.

External-cavity lasers

A waveguide structure comprises a thin strip of material having a relatively high free charge carrier density surrounded by material having a relatively low free charge carrier density. The width and thickness of the strip are dimensioned such that optical radiation having a wavelength in a predetermined range couples to the strip and propagates along its length as a plasmon-polariton wave. The device includes a waveguide heater for passing a current through the strip to heat it and the surrounding material, so as to vary propagation of the optical radiation, or means for monitoring propagation of the optical radiation to determine a change in temperature of the strip. Some embodiments provide both heating of the strip and monitoring of its temperature.

Growing community of inventors

Kanata, Canada

Stéphanie Marie-Julie Jetté