Atomic beam collimation using a laser diode with a self-locking power-buildup cavity

We have demonstrated a self-locking power-buildup cavity for laser diodes. This device requires only a few simple optical elements and can provide a standing wave containing as much as 1000 times the power emitted by the laser diode. With this device we have obtained an intense standing wave of tunable light that was used to collimate a cesium atomic beam. We have studied the power and frequency dependence of the beam collimation.