Abstract

Microchip lasers¹ have been frequency tuned using a variety of techniques including thermal tuning, piezoelectric tuning,² and pumpdiode modulation.³ Each of these techniques provides frequency modulation at low excursion rates and has advantages for a given set of applications. However, for applications including frequency-modulated optical communications and chirped coherent laser radar, extremely high rates of tuning are required. These rates can only be achieved electro-optically.⁴ Composite-cavity electro-optically tuned microchip lasers provide linear voltage-to-frequency conversion with constant-, high-sensitivity tuning at rates from dc to several gigahertz. This, coupled with their simplicity, small size, robustness, high mode quality, and potential for low-cost mass production, should make them attractive for a large range of applications.

© 1993 Optical Society of America