Toptica Photonics Ag

Rainer Heidemann

Matthias Scholz

Frank Lison

Thomas Heine

Christoph Raab

Andreas Able

The invention relates to a method for stabilizing a diode laser with a semiconductor laser diode and an external resonator (ECDL), wherein the external resonator is comprised of at least one angle-dispersive, frequency-selective element and wherein the frequency of the diode laser is essentially determined by the length of the external resonator and by the position of the angle-dispersive, frequency-selective element, and wherein these two frequency-selective elements or one element thereof can be detuned by way of a correction means () for harmonization to each other, which is characterized in that the portion of the light reflected from the external resonator with the angle-dispersive, frequency-selective element back to the semiconductor laser diode and not optically coupled into the semiconductor laser diode (designated as 'non-optically coupled light') or part thereof, is measured and that from the relevant measuring values, after comparison with a reference value, a fault signal is generated which as control variable activates the correction means for synchronization of the frequency-selective elements. Furthermore, the invention relates to device for implementing the method.

Method for stabilizing a diode laser

An optical resonator is provided made of low-outgassing materials, including at least one chamber, a non-linear crystal arranged in the chamber, and an array of mirrors arranged in the chamber and including a plurality of mirrors for deflecting a light beam. To specify such a resonator which is low-outgassing and which ensures fine adjustment of the optical elements at the same time, the present invention proposes that the non-linear crystal and at least one mirror of the array of mirrors is arranged on one movable carrier each, wherein the said carrier is fabricated from a low-outgassing material and seals the chamber. Furthermore, a sealing system is provided including a housing, an optical element and a sealing element of indium or indium alloy, which is arranged between the housing and the optical element, wherein the optical element has a lateral surface and the sealing element is arranged on the lateral surface.

Low outgassing resonator

The invention relates to a kinematic mount having a base part () and a bracket part (), which is positioned on the base part (), and which is tiltable relative thereto around at least one tilting axis. The invention provides that the mount has at least one pivot lever (), which is connected to the base part () by way of a first joint (), and which is connected to the bracket part () by way of a second joint (), which is spaced apart from the first joint () in a longitudinal direction of the pivot lever (). The base part (), the pivot lever (), and the bracket part () form a gear unit, which converts a movement of an actuator () impacting the pivot lever () into a tilting of the bracket part () relative to the base part ().

Kinematic mount

The invention relates to an optical resonator made of low-outgassing materials, comprised of at least one chamber, a non-linear crystal arranged in the chamber, and an array of mirrors arranged in the chamber and comprised of a plurality of mirrors for deflecting a light beam. To specify such a resonator which is low-outgassing and which ensures fine adjustment of the optical elements at the same time, the present invention proposes that the non-linear crystal and at least one mirror of the array of mirrors is arranged on one movable carrier each, wherein the said carrier is fabricated from a low-outgassing material and seals the chamber.

A tunable diode laser system with external resonator in Littrow or Littman configuration has an optical lattice on which the light beam from a laser diode is diffracted, a support element to hold the lattice or to hold a mirror, which reflects the light diffracted by the lattice, and an actuator to change the position of the lattice or the mirror. The tunable diode laser system enables a reliable mode-hop-free tuning and furthermore is easy and economical to realize by having the support element include a carrier, on which the lattice or the mirror is arranged, and a base body, while the actuator acts on the carrier and rests against the base body. The carrier is connected to the base body via linkages, such that a linear deflection of the actuator is transformed into a rotation of the carrier in the plane of the light beam, while the center of rotation lies outside the base body.

Tunable diode laser system with external resonator

A fiber coupler for coupling light into an optical fiber and/or coupling light out of the fiber, has two holder elements, namely a fiber holder for holding the fiber, and a lens holder for holding a focusing lens. The holder elements are adjustable in the axial and transversal direction, respectively. In order to make such a fiber coupler available, which allows precise adjustment of the position of the focusing lens relative to the fiber, and which is furthermore compact in structure and inexpensive to produce, the holder elements are connected with a base body by way of at least one elastic monolithic joint, in each instance.

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Munich, Germany

Rainer Heidemann