Lynx
Tunable External Cavity Diode Laser
Littrow Configuration

Scientific Lasers

TEC 100 & TEC 120

Vorsprung durch Innovation

Littrow Laser DiodeConcepts, an Overviewx2

Pivot Point
TEC-100x1

Grating

Laser
Pivot Pointx2

Ricci / Hänsch DesignThe extended cavity diode laser
concept was developed by thegroup of Prof. Hänsch in the early
1990s for optical cooling andtrapping [1, 2]. It was improved byHildebrandt et al. by choosing antireflection coated diode lasers [3].
The laser system consists of acommerical diode laser, collimation
optics and a diffraction grating forwavelength tuning. Since the laser
emission is coupled out via the 0thorder of the grating, the coupling of
the laser to the cavity is weak andthe mode-hop free tuning is limited totypically 10GHz. This design is stillavailable for low budget applications
by model no. TEC-100.

Sacher Design
TEC-120x1

Grating

Laser
Dimensions
TEC-100

Sacher Lasertechnik improved theextended cavity concept by avoiding
all compromises. The external cavity
is realized with class D anti-reflection
coated diode lasers and with a highefficiency diffraction grating. The
output power is coupled out via therear facet of the laser chip for avoiding
any beam walk. This results in the best
performance for an external cavity
diode laser system in Littrow
configuration. Several patentapplications are pending. Typicalpower values range between 20mW
and 200mW for single mode diodelasers, depending on the wavelength.
This laser design is available by model
no. TEC-120.

Technical Realization

TEC-120

The drawings on the left hand side
show the technical realization and thedimensions of the TEC-100 and theTEC-120 external cavity diode lasersystems.
[1] L. Ricci et al., Opt. Commun. 117, p. 541, 1995
[2] K. B. Mc Adam et al., Am. J. Phys. 60, p. 1098, 1992
[3] L. Hildebrandt et al., Appl. Opt. 42, p. 2110, 2003,
Download:
http://data.sacher-laser.com/publications/ao2003.pdf

Key Features of ourLittrow Laser System
Side Mode Supression
0Beam Quality-10

Signal [dB]-20-30

-40

-50

-60
760

770

780

790

800

Wavelength [nm]Example:Power: > 150 mW at 780nm
M 2 = 1.5 in both directions

In-house manufacturing of AR-coatings, Patent 6,297,066
In house manufacturing of anti-reflection coatings for diode lasers guarantees the best
performance for the complete laser system. for each type of application.

High passive stability
Realizing the pivot axis of the tuning grating and the cavity adjustement via flex-mounts
ensures the highest passive stability of our Littrow laser system. As a result, we achieve arobust and highly stable external cavity diode laser system with excellent values for the longterm laser linewidth.

Option: Single-mode fiber coupling
Due to the excellent mechanical stability of our Littrow laser system, we are able to perform
high efficiency fiber coupling with coupling efficiencies between 40% and 70% into singlemode polarization maintaning optical fibers. Optical isolators and angled fiber connectors(FC/APC couplers) are available upon request.

Specifications: http://www.sacher-laser.com/ltwspecs.php
Output Power10 .. 200 mW (depending on wavelength)

Wavelength

375, 400, 635, 655, 675, 685, 765, 780, 795, 810, 850, 895, 935
1060, 1260, 1310, 1380, 1450, 1550, 1630, 1700 nm, orWavelength Tuning

2nm .. 120nm (depending on wavelength)Linewidth

1 MHz @ 1ms (100kHz @ 1us)Mode-hop Free Tuning> 16 GHz, typically > 30 Ghz

Side Mode Supression> 50 dB

Beam Quality M2customized< 1.5specifications are subject to change without further noticeApplication Example
Sub-Doppler Spectroscopy
High resolution spectroscopy requires laser features like narrow linewidth, highpassive stability, exact adjustable wavelength as well as an excellent fine tuningability. The figure summarizes experimental data which have been determined with
our Littrow laser system. The blue trace shows an absorption trace of theD2-line of Rubidium. More demanding is the Doppler-free detection of the Lambdips (c/f W. Demtröder, LaserSpectroscopy, Springer 1998). The red trace shows
the doppler-free measurement of the Lamb-dip of the D2-line of Rubidium.

About Sacher Lasertechnik
Company ProfileSacher Lasertechnik is leading manufacturer of tunable external cavity diode lasers(ECDLs) with more than 13 years of experience. The product range includes antireflection coated diode lasers, ECDLs in Littrow and in Littman/Metcalf configuration
as well as driver electronics for the LD and sophisticated measuring electronics.
Please contact us with your measurement requirements. We would be proud
to support you with our competence.

Please contact us or our local representative
Sacher Lasertechnik
GmbHR. Breitscheid Str. 3-7
D-35037 Marburg/Lahn
Germany
Tel.: +49 6421 305 - 0
Fax: +49 6421 305299

Sacher Lasertechnik
LLC5765 Equador Way
Buena Park, CA90620
U. S. A.
Tel.: 1-800-352-3639
Fax: 1-714-670-7662

Email: contact@sacher.de
Web: http://www.sacher.de