公开(公告)号：US20020146047A1

公开(公告)日：2002-10-10

申请号：US10010817

申请日：2001-12-06

Applicant: Northstar Photonics, Inc.

Inventor： Mark P. Bendett ,  Michael A. McCoy

IPC: H01S003/17

CPC classification number: C03C4/00 ,  G02B6/12004 ,  G02B6/12007 ,  G02B6/124 ,  G02B6/125 ,  G02B6/1345 ,  G02B6/2551 ,  G02B6/30 ,  G02B6/3508 ,  G02B6/4249 ,  G02B2006/12107 ,  G02B2006/12121 ,  G02B2006/1215 ,  G02B2006/12183 ,  H01S3/0621 ,  H01S3/063 ,  H01S3/0632 ,  H01S3/0635 ,  H01S3/0637 ,  H01S3/08086 ,  H01S3/094053 ,  H01S3/094084 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/09415 ,  H01S3/1055 ,  H01S3/1608 ,  H01S3/1611 ,  H01S3/1618 ,  H01S3/17 ,  H01S3/175 ,  H01S3/176 ,  H01S3/2383 ,  H01S3/2391 ,  H01S5/0654 ,  H01S2302/00

Abstract: Optical structures and method for producing tunable waveguide lasers. In one embodiment, a waveguide is defined within a glass substrate doped with a rare-earth element or elements by ion diffusion. Feedback elements such as mirrors or reflection gratings in the waveguide further define a laser-resonator cavity so that laser light is output from the waveguide when pumped optically or otherwise. Means are disclosed for varying the wavelengths reflected by the reflection gratings and varying the effective length of the resonator cavity to thereby tune the laser to a selected wavelength. Apparatus and method for integrating rare-earth doped lasers and optics on glass substrates. The invention includes a laser component formed from a glass substrate doped with a optically active lanthanides species with a plurality of waveguides defined by channels within the substrate. The laser component may constitute a monolithic array of individual waveguides in which the waveguides of the array form laser resonator cavities with differing resonance characteristics. The channels defining the waveguides are created by exposing a surface of the substrate to an ion-exchange solvent through a mask layer having a plurality of line apertures corresponding to the channels which are to be formed.

Abstract translation: 用于制造可调波导激光器的光学结构和方法。 在一个实施例中，波导限定在通过离子扩散掺杂有稀土元素的玻璃衬底内。 波导中的诸如反射镜或反射光栅的反馈元件进一步限定了激光谐振腔，从而当以光学或其他方式泵浦时从波导输出激光。 公开了用于改变由反射光栅反射的波长并改变谐振腔的有效长度的装置，从而将激光器调谐到所选择的波长。 在稀土掺杂的激光器和玻璃基板上的光学元件上集成的装置和方法。 本发明包括由掺杂有光学活性镧系元素的玻璃衬底形成的激光器组件，其具有由衬底内的通道限定的多个波导。 激光器部件可以构成单个波导的单片阵列，其中阵列的波导形成具有不同谐振特性的激光谐振腔。 限定波导的通道是通过将具有多个与要形成的通道相对应的多个线孔的掩模层暴露于离子交换溶剂而形成离子交换溶剂而形成的。