title: Observation of coherent transients by use of current switching of a semiconductor diode laser.
abstract: We have observed optical free induction decay on the (3)H(6)(1) ? (3)H(4)(1) transition of Tm(3+) ions in LaF(3), using an external-cavity diode laser. The diode-laser frequency was switched by the application of a current step, and the resulting transient was detected by heterodyne beating with the laser at its new frequency. This provides a simple new way to measure coherent transients. The beat note shows a frequency chirp that gives a real-time measure of the diode-laser frequency. This result is attributed to changes in the laser lattice temperature on the microsecond time scale.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu