Patent ID: 6587484
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A method for calibrating a laser using an etalon and a gas absorption cell containing a gas of known light absorption characteristics, the method comprising the steps of:routing an output beam from the laser through the etalon while tuning the laser through a range of discrete laser-tuning parameters where said tuned parameters are selected from the group consisting of current, voltage, and temperature to produce an etalon transmission spectrum; routing an output beam from the laser through the gas cell while tuning the laser through the range of discrete laser tuning parameters to produce a gas absorption spectrum; detecting and storing peaks of the etalon transmission spectrum and the gas absorption spectrum; and comparing the stored detected etalon transmission spectrum with the stored detected gas absorption spectrum to determine the absolute transmission wavelength of the laser, thereby providing references for precisely tuning the laser.