A self-injected, diode-pumped, solid-state ring laser for laser cooling of Li atoms

TL;DR

This paper presents a solid-state, diode-pumped ring laser with second-harmonic generation, enabling efficient laser cooling of lithium atoms and achieving quantum degeneracy.

Contribution

It introduces a novel laser system with improved mode selection and tunability for lithium atom cooling applications.

Findings

Achieved high output power and unidirectional lasing in the ring laser.

Successfully trapped and cooled lithium atoms to quantum degeneracy.

Demonstrated continuous frequency tuning via dual PZT control.

Abstract

We have constructed a solid-state light source for experiments with laser cooled lithium atoms based on a Nd:YVO$_4$ ring laser with second-harmonic generation. Unidirectional lasing, an improved mode selection, and a high output power of the ring laser was achieved by weak coupling to an external cavity which contained the lossy elements required for single frequency operation. Continuous frequency tuning is accomplished by controlling two PZTs in the internal and the external cavities simultaneously. The light source has been utilized to trap and cool fermionic lithium atoms into the quantum degenerate regime.