Abstract
We report the design, growth, and characterization of an AlGaInP-based VECSEL, designed to be optically-pumped with an inexpensive high power blue InGaN diode laser, for emission around 689 nm. Up to 140 mW output power is achieved in a circularly-symmetric single transverse (TEM00) and single longitudinal mode, tunable from 683 to 693 nm. With intensity stabilization of the pump diode and frequency-stabilization of the VECSEL resonator to a reference cavity via the Pound-Drever-Hall technique, we measure the power spectral density of the VECSEL frequency noise, reporting sub-kHz linewidth at 689 nm. The VECSEL relative intensity noise (RIN) is <-130 dBc/Hz for all frequencies above 100 kHz. This compact laser system is suitable for use in quantum technologies, particularly those based on laser-cooled and trapped strontium atoms.
Highlights
Many quantum technology systems, those based on cold atoms, are dependent on multiple laser sources to manipulate atoms, addressing numerous transitions at optical frequencies
We have reported the design, growth, characterization and improved performance in output power, stability and noise performance of an AlGaInP-vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) gain structure pumped by a high power InGaN diode laser
Extensively implemented in VECSELs with direct emission at near and mid-IR wavelengths, diode-pumping at visible wavelengths is more challenging, due to the relative lack of commercially-available high power devices, but in this case the necessary re-design of the gain structures to adapt to the short absorption length of the available pump wavelengths
Summary
Those based on cold atoms, are dependent on multiple laser sources to manipulate atoms, addressing numerous transitions at optical frequencies. In our recent work we have developed ultra-narrow linewidth AlGaInP-based VECSELs emitting at 689 nm [16], demonstrating, for the first time with this laser type, the sub-kHz linewidths required for targeting the second cooling transition of neutral strontium [30] These results were obtained by pumping with a high brightness, low noise green pump (a frequency-doubled IR VECSEL), such that further reductions in the size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) of the system require the implementation of inexpensive diode-pumping. Sub-kHz linewidth (∼0.6 kHz) is inferred from the latter, achieved with simultaneous active stabilization of the pump intensity, via the diode current, and the VECSEL resonator, via the Pound-Drever-Hall technique
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