A driver circuit for driving a laser diode is described herein. In accordance with a first exemplary embodiment the driver circuit includes a first electronic switch connected to an output node that is configured to be operably connected to a laser diode. The electric connection between the first electronic switch and the output node has a first inductance. The driver circuit further includes a bypass circuit that is coupled to the output node and configured to take over, when activated, the current supplied to the output node via the first electronic switch, thus magnetizing the first inductance.

The present invention relates to an electrically tunable photonic resonator device for a component having a fast and flat actuation response. The photonic resonator device includes at least one optical waveguide with an optical interface for coupling in laser light. The photonic resonator device includes at least one optical resonator including a waveguide made of an optical resonator material. A laser light coupled via the optical waveguide is coupled into at least one optical resonator. The photonic resonator device includes at least one piezo actuator to apply mechanical stress onto the optical resonator. The optical resonator, the piezo actuator, and the optical waveguide are monolithically integrated on a common substrate of the photonic resonator device. The photonic resonator device includes a mechanical mode suppression means configured to attenuate one or more mechanical modes of oscillation caused by an AC operation of the piezo actuator.

A hybrid single or multi-wavelength laser using an optical gain element, such as a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), for example a QD RSOA, and a semiconductor, e.g. silicon, photonics chip is demonstrated. A plurality, e.g. four, lasing modes at a predetermined, e.g. 2 nm, spacing and less than 3 dB power non-uniformity may be observed, with over 20 mW of total output power. Each lasing peak can be successfully modulated at 10 Gb/s. At 10.sup.9 BER, the receiver power penalty is less than 2.6 dB compared to a conventional commercial laser. An expected application is the provision of a comb laser source for WDM transmission in optical interconnection systems.

A tunable source includes a short-cavity laser optimized for performance and reliability in SSOCT imaging systems, spectroscopic detection systems, and other types of detection and sensing systems. The short cavity laser has a large free spectral range cavity, fast tuning response and single transverse, longitudinal and polarization mode operation, and includes embodiments for fast and wide tuning, and optimized spectral shaping. Disclosed are both electrical and optical pumping in a MEMS-VCSEL geometry with mirror and gain regions optimized for wide tuning, high output power, and a variety of preferred wavelength ranges; and a semiconductor optical amplifier, combined with the short-cavity laser to produce high-power, spectrally shaped operation. Several preferred imaging and detection systems make use of this tunable source for optimized operation are also disclosed.

One example includes an optical device system. The system includes a waveguide that includes a fixed waveguide portion to propagate an optical signal, a semiconductor membrane layer, and a tunable air gap that separates the fixed waveguide portion and the semiconductor membrane layer. The system also includes an optical tuning system to move the semiconductor membrane layer with respect to the fixed waveguide portion in response to a control signal to control a separation distance of the tunable air gap to tune a characteristic of the optical signal.

A wavelength variable light source includes a housing, a heat sink disposed in the housing, an excitation light source disposed on the heat sink and configured to output excitation light, a gain medium disposed on the heat sink and including an active layer and a lower DBR, a MEMS mechanism including a movable film facing the gain medium via a gap, disposed on the gain medium, and configured to control the gap, an upper DBR provided in the movable film and configuring a resonator together with the lower DBR, a reflector configured to reflect the excitation light output from the excitation light source toward the gain medium in the housing, and a window formed in the housing and configured to transmit light output from the gain medium.

The invention relates to a device (2) for injecting spin-polarized electrons and for reflecting light, comprising at least one lattice structure (3) having a plurality of recesses (4), wherein the lattice structure (3) is designed to reflect the light, and wherein a respective injection contact (5, 6) for injecting spin-polarized electrons is arranged in at least some of the recesses (4).

A tunable or swept laser architecture that is appropriate for swept source optical coherence tomography and other applications including spectroscopy employing a cat's-eye configuration with a preferably transmissive tilt tuned interference thin film filter.

A tunable source includes a short-cavity laser optimized for performance and reliability in SSOCT imaging systems, spectroscopic detection systems, and other types of detection and sensing systems. The short cavity laser has a large free spectral range cavity, fast tuning response and single transverse, longitudinal and polarization mode operation, and includes embodiments for fast and wide tuning, and optimized spectral shaping. Disclosed are both electrical and optical pumping in a MEMS-VCSEL geometry with mirror and gain regions optimized for wide tuning, high output power, and a variety of preferred wavelength ranges; and a semiconductor optical amplifier, combined with the short-cavity laser to produce high-power, spectrally shaped operation. Several preferred imaging and detection systems make use of this tunable source for optimized operation are also disclosed.

A multi-channel tunable laser includes: a frequency selective optical multiplexer comprising: a plurality of channel terminals for receiving/transmitting light; a plurality of channel waveguide blocks, each channel waveguide block comprising at least one reflectively terminated channel waveguide; and an optical coupling element optically coupling the plurality of channel terminals with the plurality of channel waveguide blocks, each of the channel waveguides of the plurality of channel waveguide blocks having a different length; a plurality of channel paths, each channel path coupled to a respective channel terminal of the plurality of channel terminals and comprising a gain element, a phase element and a reflective element; and a plurality of optical tuners, each one configured to tune the channel waveguides of a respective channel waveguide block of the plurality of channel waveguide blocks.