Compact narrow-linewidth swept source laser for the C-Band
Chilas has developed a compact narrow-linewidth widely tunable laser module based on their hybrid-integration external cavity laser (ECL) technology. This new laser is perfectly suited for a large range of sensing applications like structural health monitoring using Fiber Bragg gratings, molecular detection using ring resonators, and LiDAR remote sensing.
Seamlessly sweeping and widely tunable
Featuring a fiber output power exceeding 10 mW, this laser is capable of sweeping across the entire C-band (1528-1568 nm) at an impressive speed of 40 nm per second. While the laser currently operates in a static mode, a dedicated driver and improved calibration procedures allow for quasi-continuous sweeping across the full tuning range.
A key feature of this laser is its ultra-fine wavelength grid of 4 pm, which ensures precise coverage of all wavelengths within its range. The laser is designed to sweep without mode hops over each 0.2 nm segment, with only a brief 1 millisecond pause as it transitions to the next segment.
The laser’s innovation lies in its fully chip-based wavelength filter, a design that eliminates the need for mechanical moving parts. This design offers significant advantages:
1
Instantaneous Range Reset The laser can switch from the end of its scan range back to the start without any delay, resulting in a nearly 100% duty cycle.
2
Consistency & Repeatability The consistency from scan to scan is excellent & the laser is ready for high-volume demands
Compact Design Meets User-Friendly Interface
Despite its advanced capabilities, this laser module is incredibly compact, housed in a unit measuring just 100x60x20 mm. It features an extended-cavity diode laser and includes all necessary electronic drivers. The module is equipped with a DB9 connector, and a USB interface can be supplied on request. Plus, the included software makes it easy to control and adapt the laser to specific needs.
Expanding the Laser’s Impact Across Industries
The versatility of this laser module is making it suitable for a large range of sensing applications like structural health monitoring using Fiber Bragg gratings, optical chip inspection for both active and passive components, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Terahertz generation, beating the swept source with an idle laser 5 THz sweep range to be anticipated.
Expanding the Laser’s Potential to New Wavelengths
As Chilas continues to refine the sweep mode, plans are in place to adapt this technology to other extended cavity lasers, expanding its reach to additional wavelength ranges such as the SCL band and 1700 nm. This will open up even more possibilities for advanced sensing and measurement applications.
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