Single-frequency 571 nm VECSEL for photoionization of magnesium

Published

June 3, 2016

Author(s)

Shaun C. Burd, Tomi Leinonen, Jussi-Pekka Penttinen, David T. Allcock, Daniel H. Slichter, Raghavendra Srinivas, Andrew C. Wilson, Micrea Guina, Dietrich G. Leibfried

Abstract

We report the development of an intracavity-frequency-doubled VECSEL emitting at 571 nm for photoionization of magnesium. The laser employs a V-cavity geometry with a gain chip at the end of one cavity arm and a lithium triborate (LBO) crystal for second harmonic generation. The gain chip has a bottom-emitting design with ten GaInAs quantum wells of 7nm thickness, which are strain compensated by GaAsP. The system is capable of producing up to 2.4 ± 0.1 W (total power in two separate output beams) in the visible. The free-running relative intensity noise was measured to be below －55 dBc/Hz over all frequencies from 1 Hz to 1 MHz. With acoustic isolation and temperature regulation of the laser breadboard, the mode-hop free operation time is typically over 5hrs. To improve the long-term frequency stability, the laser can be locked to a Doppler-free transition of molecular iodine. To estimate the short-term linewidth, the laser was tuned to the resonance of a reference cavity. From analysis of the on-resonance Ha ¿nsch-Couillaud error signal we infer a linewidth of 50 ± 10 kHz. Light at 285 nm is generated with an external build-up cavity containing a β-barium borate (BBO) crystal. The UV light is used for loading 25Mg+ ions in a surface-electrode RF Paul trap. These results demonstrate the applicability and versatility of high-power, single-frequency VECSELs with intracavity harmonic generation for applications in atomic and molecular physics.

Proceedings Title

SPIE Photonics West Exhibition

Volume

9734

Conference Dates

February 13, 2013-February 18, 2016

Conference Location

San Francisco, CA

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2213398

Keywords

VECSEL, OPSL, SDL, frequency doubling, SHG, Ion trapping, Single frequency, Doppler-free spectroscopy, magnesium

Citation

Burd, S. , Leinonen, T. , Penttinen, J. , Allcock, D. , Slichter, D. , Srinivas, R. , Wilson, A. , Guina, M. and Leibfried, D. (2016), Single-frequency 571 nm VECSEL for photoionization of magnesium, SPIE Photonics West Exhibition, San Francisco, CA, [online], https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2213398 (Accessed October 8, 2025)