Continuously tunable laser based on polarization gratings in azobenzene-containing material

Two simple procedures to manufacture continuously tunable miniature lasers in azobenzene-containing material were developed. Both types of lasers rely on the distributed feedback provided by polarization gratings. In a first approach tuning is achieved by changing the thickness of the active wave guiding layer by means of a wedge layer and in a second approach by gradually changing the spatial frequency of the refractive index grating obtained by modification of the Lloyd interferometer set-up used for holographic inscription of the gratings. A continuous tuning range of up to 35 nm has been demonstrated. (paper)