Diode laser

Abstract

The present invention relates to a diode laser with external spectrally selective feedback. It is an object of the invention is to provide an external cavity diode laser with wavelength stabilization which allows an increased overall output power in the desired wavelength range. According to the invention, an external cavity diode laser arrangement is disclosed comprising: an active medium positioned inside an internal laser cavity (), the internal laser cavity () comprising an exit facet () adapted for outcoupling laser radiation; an external frequency-selective element () positioned outside the internal laser cavity () and adapted for wavelength stabilization of the laser radiation; a beam divider () positioned outside the internal laser cavity () and adapted to divide the outcoupled laser radiation (BO) into a first beam (B) extending along a first beam path (P) and a second beam (B) extending along a second beam path (P), the first beam (B) having higher radiant intensity than the second beam (B) and the first beam path (P) being different from the second beam path (P); and an intensity control means to control the radiant intensity incident to the external frequency selective element (); wherein the external frequency-selective element () and the intensity control means are arranged in the second beam path (P). The intensity control means in the second beam path (P) may comprise a polarization modifying means () and a polarizer () in order to reduce thermal stress at the frequency-selective element ().