Linewidth narrowing and wideband frequency modulation of a DBR laser

Area of Science:

• Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics
• Laser Physics & Photonics

Background:

• Distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers are crucial for atomic physics experiments.
• Achieving precise frequency control and narrow linewidths is essential for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel scheme for phase-locking a 240 mW, 852 nm DBR laser.
• To enable rapid frequency tuning of the DBR laser for complex atomic physics experiments.

Main Methods:

• Phase-locking is achieved via electronic feedback on the beatnote between the DBR laser and a fixed-frequency narrow-linewidth laser.
• The frequency offset is rapidly tunable, with a demonstrated sweep of 200 MHz in 300 µs.

Main Results:

• The phase-lock successfully stabilized the DBR laser frequency.
• The frequency offset was rapidly tunable, suitable for dynamic atomic physics schemes.
• The laser linewidth was reduced from ~400 kHz to ~100 kHz.

Conclusions:

• The presented phase-lock scheme provides precise frequency control for DBR lasers.
• This technique enhances the utility of DBR lasers in demanding atomic physics applications, including cooling and state preparation.