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Abstract

An external cavity laser comprises a laser source, a collimation optical element, a blazed diffraction grating, a transform optical element, and a light modulator. The laser source produces a light output comprising a range of light wavelengths. The collimation optical element couples the laser source to the blazed diffraction grating. The collimation optical element collimates the light output. The blazed diffraction grating diffracts the light output into a first diffraction order. The transform optical element couples the blazed diffraction grating to the light modulator, which is located in a transform plane of the transform optical element. The transform optical element converts the first diffraction order to position in the transform plane by focusing the range of light wavelengths to the transform plane. The light modulator comprises an array of light modulating pixels selectively operable in first mode and second modes. A particular light modulating pixel in the first mode reflects light along a return path. The particular light modulating pixel in the second mode directs light away from the return path. The first mode is selectively operable to adjust a return path length by at least a half wavelength. In operation at least one of the light modulating pixels operates in the first mode returning a lasing wavelength along the return path and creating a resonant cavity for the lasing wavelength while operating a remainder of the light modulating pixels in the second mode to direct a remainder of the range of light wavelengths away from the return path.

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