Controlled-linewidth laser source

This patent discloses the control of laser linewidth by reflecting a certain portion of the laser light back into the laser cavity. This control is accomplished by aligning the active layer on an electroabsorptive cell with the active layer of a semiconductor laser on a single substrate with a first waveguide between them. Light from the laser is guided by the first waveguide to the electroabsorptive cell whose light absorption is electronically controlled. The laser light propagates through the active region in the electroabsorptive cell and then is guided by a second waveguide to a reflection facet. The laser light is reflected by this reflection facet back through the waveguide-cell-waveguide-laser light path. This can be formed using either a monolithic or a hybrid design.