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Construction and Characterization of External Cavity Diode Lasers for Atomic Physics
Published on: April 24, 2014
Summary
This study presents a novel tunable diode laser. It achieves a wide, hop-free tuning range with high speed and accuracy, ideal for precise laser applications.
Area of Science:
- Laser Physics
- Optical Engineering
Background:
- External-cavity diode lasers are crucial for tunable laser applications.
- Achieving wide mode-hop-free tuning ranges with high speed and accuracy remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and demonstrate a tunable external-cavity Littrow diode laser.
- To combine a large mode-hop-free tuning range with high tuning speeds and accuracy.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of an intracavity electro-optical crystal in a Littrow configuration.
- Utilizing a crystal with a thickness that varies across the beam to control cavity elongation.
- Achieving mode-hop-free tuning by ensuring cavity elongation is proportional to cavity length.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a mode-hop-free single-mode tuning range of 50 GHz at 793 nm.
- Achieved an output power of 60 mW with tuning speeds of 1.5 GHz/micros.
- Measured an instantaneous linewidth smaller than 300 kHz.
Conclusions:
- The designed laser successfully integrates a large mode-hop-free tuning range with high tuning speeds and accuracy.
- The intracavity electro-optical crystal is key to achieving the desired laser performance.
- This laser design offers a promising solution for applications requiring precise and rapid wavelength tuning.
