A laser source (10) for generating a continuously wavelength tunable light
(12) includes a gain media (16), an optical output coupler (36F), a
cavity collimator (38A), a diffraction grating (30), a grating beam (54),
and a beam attacher (56). The diffraction grating (30) is spaced apart
from the cavity collimator (38A) and the grating (30) cooperates with the
optical output coupler (36F) to define an external cavity (32). The
grating (30) includes a grating face surface (42A) that is in a grating
plane (42B). The beam attacher (56) retains the grating beam (54) and
allows the grating beam (54) and the grating (30) to effectively pivot
about a pivot axis (33) that is located approximately at an intersection
of a pivot plane (50) and the grating plane (42B). As provided herein,
the diffraction grating (30) can be pivoted about the unique pivot axis
(33) to move the diffraction grating (30) relative to the gain media (16)
to continuously tune the lasing frequency of the external cavity (32) and
the wavelength of the output light (12) so that the output light (12) is
mode hop free.