Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
09:10
Construction and Characterization of External Cavity Diode Lasers for Atomic Physics
Published on: April 24, 2014
Fast tuning of external-cavity diode lasers
Peter Mahnke1, Hans H Klingenberg, Werner Zirnig
1Institut für Technische Physik, Deutsches Zentrum für Luftund Raumfahrt e.V, Stuttgart, Germany. peter.mahnke@dlr.de
Applied Optics
|October 25, 2002
Summary
We developed a method to characterize tuning in external-cavity diode lasers. Applying a voltage pulse to a piezo element achieved a 13.6 GHz frequency detuning, useful for spectroscopy and lidar.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Laser Physics
Background:
- External-cavity diode lasers (ECDLs) are crucial for tunable laser applications.
- Characterizing the dynamic tuning response of ECDLs is essential for precise control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a method for characterizing the tuning capabilities of small-bandwidth ECDLs.
- To investigate the step response and frequency response compensation of a piezo-driven Littman-Metcalf ECDL.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Littman-Metcalf ECDL system.
- Applied a compensated Gaussian pulse (approx. 50-V) to the laser's piezo element.
- Measured the resulting frequency detuning and characterized the optoelectromechanical frequency response.
Main Results:
- Observed a significant frequency detuning of 13.6 GHz.
- Successfully characterized the dynamic tuning behavior of the ECDL.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of compensating the optoelectromechanical frequency response.
Conclusions:
- The developed method effectively characterizes ECDL tuning.
- The observed detuning is valuable for spectroscopic applications.
- The tunable laser output is suitable for seeding lidar systems.
