Single-mode tuning of a 1540-nm diode laser using a Fabry–Pérot interferometer

We realized a wavelength-tunable laser using a 1540-nm Fabry–Pérot diode laser and a silicon surface micromachined Fabry–Pérot interferometer device in the short external cavity configuration. This hybrid-integrated system enables the use of standard laser chips and potentially has a low cost. We obtained single-mode tuning of 13 nm, a sidemode suppression ratio of better than 25 dB, and an average single-mode fiber-coupled power of 100 µW. The emitter can be employed in optical communication and fiber-optic sensor applications.