A planar optical waveguide is formed having sets of locking diffractive
elements and means for routing optical signals. Lasers are positioned to
launch signals into the planar waveguide that are successively incident
on elements of the locking diffractive element sets, which route
fractions of the signals back to the lasers as locking feedback signals.
The routing means route between lasers and output port(s) portions of
those fractions of signals transmitted by locking diffractive element
sets. Locking diffractive element sets may be formed in channel
waveguides formed in the planar waveguide, or in slab waveguide region(s)
of the planar waveguide. Multiple routing means may comprise routing
diffractive element sets formed in a slab waveguide region of the planar
waveguide, or may comprise an arrayed waveguide grating formed in the
planar waveguide. The apparatus may comprise a multiple-wavelength
optical source.