An optical
spectroscopy apparatus determines the concentration of
analyte in a specimen that utilizes a single
radiation source which is
hybrid laser comprising a
semiconductor pump
laser and small-cavity
rare earth fiber laser where laser cavities of both lasers are butt coupled or otherwise optically coupled to form a plurality of laser cavities that produce a plurality of emission wavelengths, one which may be the pump laser emission
wavelength at the output of the
fiber laser thereby forming a multi-
wavelength combined output where the wavelengths substantially match distinguishing spectral characteristic features along at least a portion of a characteristic optical spectrum of the
analyte under examination. In lieu of complex
data analysis of these wavelengths to determine values representing the concentration of the
analyte in an examined specimen, the
semiconductor pump laser or lasers are modulated as a plurality of tone frequencies, where at least a first of the modulation frequencies is below the maximum
frequency response of the
fiber laser so that the first modulation effectively modulates the pump emission
wavelength and a first emission wavelength of the
fiber laser in the
hybrid laser combined output, and at least a second of modulation frequencies is above the maximum
frequency response of the
fiber laser so that the second modulation effectively modulates the pump emission wavelength but not the first emission wavelength of the
fiber laser in the
hybrid laser combined output. Further, one or more additional modulation frequencies may be applied to the pump laser which are intermediate of the first and second modulation frequencies where it is at least responsive to at least one further emission wavelength of the fiber laser and also provided in the hybrid laser combined output.