title: Fast tuning of external-cavity diode lasers.
abstract: We report on a method for characterizing the tuning capabilities of small-bandwidth external-cavity diode lasers. The step response of a piezo-driven Littman-Metcalf external-cavity diode laser and the compensation of its optoelectromechanical frequency response is investigated. When an approximately 50-V compensated Gaussian pulse is applied to the piezo element, a detuning of 13.6 GHz is observed. This modification of the laser is useful for several spectroscopical applications and as a tunable seed laser for lidar applications.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Technische Physik, Deutsches Zentrum für Luftund Raumfahrt e.V, Stuttgart, Germany. peter.mahnke@dlr.de
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahnke
authors.forename: Hans H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Klingenberg
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zirnig