Novel tunable laser diode arrangement with a micromachined silicon filter: Feasibility

We demonstrate the workability of a new arrangement of a tunable high-power laser diode. This novel composite is realized with the use of a micro-optoelectro-mechanical system—a tunable silicon micromachined interferometric filter—a standard edge-emitting laser diode. In current extremely-short-external-cavity configuration, the quasi-continuous tuning over a 4-nm range with output power of tens of mW was obtained. Power and etalon characteristics of a considered hybrid laser are discussed. The advantage of proposed configuration is in its potentially low cost (due to the use of commercially available components) and loose alignment tolerances.