Power scaling of a wavelength-narrowed diode laser system for pumping alkali vapors

Abstract

We report a method for locking the output wavelength and reducing the spectral linewidth of diode lasers by feeding back light to the emitters from a wavelength selective external optical cavity. Ten years ago our team developed a stepped-mirror that allowed a single external cavity to lock the wavelength of a stack of diode array bars by equalizing path lengths between each emitter and the grating. Here we report combining one such step-mirror external cavity with an array of power dividers, each sending a portion of this feedback power to a separate diode array bar stack.