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Abstract

The present invention proposes a dielectric waveguide formed on a substrate of ultra-low thermal expansion glass which is assembled with a commercially available diode laser to create a temperature stabilized laser. The waveguide comprises multiple dielectric films which have equal and opposite temperature induced changes in refractive index with respect to each other into which is formed a Bragg grating, the grooves of which are sufficiently shallow to allow penetration of light into the waveguide of 1 mm to 1 cm. This provides a signal which is both narrowband and frequency stable so that the optical signal can be guaranteed to remain in a given narrow frequency band. The dielectric layers are deposited using ion assisted deposition (IAD) to provide uniform, high density films with reduced index-temperature coefficients and increased density, resulting in a waveguide with near-zero temperature variations in refractive index. After fabrication, the waveguide is assembled to the diode laser, creating a temperature stabilized laser which operates within 1 .ANG. of the target wavelength over the temperature range from 20.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. In one embodiment a temperature stabilized laser is used to pump a Nd:YAG laser providing a stable, high power optical signal.

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First Claim