PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for switching wavelength stably while facilitating the maintenance, in a wavelength variable laser apparatus.SOLUTION: The laser apparatus includes a cavity having reflection means and output means, a gain member disposed on the optical path between the reflection means and output means, a wavelength dispersion mechanism for dispersing a light beam passing through the optical path depending on the wavelength, and a wavelength selection mechanism having a wedge prism that can move for the optical path and changes the direction of travel of the light beam, and changing the wavelength of a light beam output from the output means by obtaining a gain from the gain member depending on the position of the wedge prism.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】波長可変レーザ装置において、メンテナンスを容易にしつつ、波長を安定して切り替えるための技術を提供する。【解決手段】反射手段および出力手段を備えるキャビティと、反射手段と出力手段の間の光路に配置された利得部材と、光路を通過する光束を波長に応じて分散させる波長分散機構と、光路に対して移動可能な、光束の進行方向を変化させるウェッジプリズムを備え、ウェッジプリズムの位置に応じて、利得部材により利得を得て出力手段から出力される光束の波長を変化させる波長選択機構を有するレーザ装置を用いる。【選択図】図1
