Date Thesis Awarded
4-2018
Access Type
Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only
Degree Name
Bachelors of Science (BS)
Department
Physics
Advisor
Seth Aubin
Committee Members
Irina Novikova
Timothy Costelloe
Mary Melfi
Abstract
This thesis describes the design, construction and characterization of an external cavity diode laser (ECDL) within the context of AMO research – specifically, ultracold rubidium experiments. The main benefit over other forms of laser light is the ECDL’s low cost and narrow linewidth. Having a more narrow linewidth allows us to affect specific electron states, such as for laser cooling, more precisely than broader alternatives.
We find that building such a laser in house is feasible with scan range up to 4 GHz. We also note that attention to external noise, through mechanical vibrations but more importantly through temperature drifts, is necessary to produce an ECDL with a stable optical frequency.
Recommended Citation
Halkowski, Benjamin, "External Cavity Diode Laser for Ultra-cold Atom Experiments" (2018). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 1221.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/1221
