An optical system includes a laser cavity on a base. The laser cavity generates a light signal in response to application of an electrical current to the laser cavity. The system includes first electronics that apply a target level of the electrical current to the laser cavity so as to cause the laser cavity to generate the light signal. The light signal experiences mode hops at electrical current levels that shift to higher current levels in response to increasing laser operation times. A first one of the mode hops occurs at a first current level and a second one of the mode hops occurs at a second current level that is higher than the first current level. The system also includes a phase shifter that interacts with the laser cavity so as to shift the mode hops to lower current levels than occur in the absence of the phase shifter.