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Single-Photon Atomic Cooling - Raizen Lab - The University of ...

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3.2.1.1 MOT Master Laser<br />

<strong>The</strong> MOT master laser is based around a simple, inexpensive single-<br />

mode laser diode. <strong>The</strong> diode used in the experiment was purchased from<br />

Intelite Inc. (model: MLD-780-100S5P). This model operates nominally at a<br />

wavelength <strong>of</strong> 780 nm and output power <strong>of</strong> 100 mW with an injection current<br />

<strong>of</strong> 120mA.<br />

<strong>The</strong> diode is made to lase at a chosen frequency and with a narrow<br />

bandwidth by placing it in a Littrow configured, grating-stabilized cavity [91,<br />

92]. <strong>The</strong> cavity is shown in Fig. 3.7 and is formed from the reflective back facet<br />

<strong>of</strong> the laser diode and a grating. <strong>The</strong> diode is positioned in the cavity by first<br />

placing it in a collimation tube (Thorlabs, LT230P-B) which bundles its output<br />

into a low divergence beam. This is then inserted into a bronze holder which<br />

slides into a bronze mounting block, directing the optical radiation towards<br />

the grating. <strong>The</strong> grating (Edmund Scientific) is formed from a 500˚A thick<br />

gold coating with 1200 grooves/mm etched into it. <strong>The</strong> grating face measures<br />

12.5 × 12.5 mm. In the Littrow configuration the grating serves as both a<br />

cavity end mirror and an output coupler. <strong>The</strong> 1 st order reflection <strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong> the<br />

grating is directed back into the laser diode, while the 0 th order reflection is<br />

used as the output beam. For the 1 st order beam to reflect back into the laser<br />

diode, the angle <strong>of</strong> incidence <strong>of</strong> the incoming beam with respect to the grating<br />

surface must satisfy the Littrow condition<br />

mλ = 2dsin(α), (3.1)<br />

98

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