title: Construction and characterization of external cavity diode lasers for atomic physics.
abstract: Since their development in the late 1980s, cheap, reliable external cavity diode lasers (ECDLs) have replaced complex and expensive traditional dye and Titanium Sapphire lasers as the workhorse laser of atomic physics labs. Their versatility and prolific use throughout atomic physics in applications such as absorption spectroscopy and laser cooling makes it imperative for incoming students to gain a firm practical understanding of these lasers. This publication builds upon the seminal work by Wieman, updating components, and providing a video tutorial. The setup, frequency locking and performance characterization of an ECDL will be described. Discussion of component selection and proper mounting of both diodes and gratings, the factors affecting mode selection within the cavity, proper alignment for optimal external feedback, optics setup for coarse and fine frequency sensitive measurements, a brief overview of laser locking techniques, and laser linewidth measurements are included.
authors.affiliation: Department of Quantum Science, The Australian National University; hardmankyle@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kyle S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hardman
authors.affiliation: Department of Quantum Science, The Australian National University.
authors.forename: Shayne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bennetts
authors.affiliation: Department of Quantum Science, The Australian National University.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Debs
authors.affiliation: Department of Quantum Science, The Australian National University.
authors.forename: Carlos C N
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: Department of Quantum Science, The Australian National University.
authors.forename: Gordon D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Department of Quantum Science, The Australian National University.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Robins
mesh_terms: D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D010825:Physics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011789:Quantum Theory