Frontiers in Physics (May 2025)

Mode-hop-free wavelength-tunable semiconductor lasers covering the S+C+L band via external-cavity optical feedback

  • Liwen Sheng,
  • Liwen Sheng,
  • Liwen Sheng,
  • Zhiming Liu,
  • Jianjun Wang,
  • Lei Liu,
  • Bingqi Yin,
  • Zhihui Zhang,
  • Shuai Zhou,
  • Lin Huang,
  • Lin Huang,
  • Lin Huang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2025.1586316
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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A wide mode-hop-free and narrow-linewidth tunable laser diode source employing a Littman-Metcalf configuration with a diffraction grating is developed. We conducted a series of experiments to evaluate the tuning characteristics and spectral linewidth of the proposed external-cavity diode laser. A continuous, mode-hop-free wavelength tuning range of approximately 180 nm within the S+C+L band is achieved, with a spectral linewidth below 32.95 kHz. Moreover, the device maintains an optical signal-to-noise ratio exceeding 62.60 dB and an output power above 10.11 dBm over the entire tuning range under long-term free-running conditions. This tunable laser, offering both mode-hop-free operation and narrow-linewidth output, holds significant promise for practical applications such as coherent detection.

Keywords