Abstract: A detuned resonant mechanism is employed in a laser cavity to modulate in frequency the mode-locking mechanism to achieve high frequency tuning rates, exceeding MHz. The configuration of the laser is compatible with working at sweeping rates close to multiples of the cavity resonance frequency as well as with buffering for increased tuning speeds.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for producing a narrow line laser emission that can be tuned at frequency rates exceeding 100 kHz. The laser apparatus is capable of fast scanning speeds close to multiples of the cavity resonance frequency. The laser cavity can be either a ring or a line resonator. This comprises dispersive means and a nonlinear medium, whose parameter when modulated induces mode-locking, referred from now on as a mode-locking mechanism block, an optical amplifier used as a gain medium and a splitter that ensures that a certain percentage of the laser emission from the gain medium is tapped outside the cavity. The driving method is accomplished with an electronic mechanism that includes a controller drive sweeping generator and a voltage controlled oscillator that injects a tunable radio frequency signal into the nonlinear mode-locking mechanism block.