Diode-pumped nonresonant continuous-wave Raman laser in H-2 with resonant optical feedback stabilization

We demonstrate a nonresonant cw Raman laser pumped by an optically locked d iode laser at 790 nm that produces cw Stokes (1178-nm) and coherent anti-St okes (595-nm) emission. Considering the modest pump powers, relative low co st, and predicted spectral purity, we expect that frequency downconversion of tunable diode lasers through stimulated Raman scattering will provide an attractive source for remote sensing, spectroscopic, and atomic physics ap plications. The Stokes laser threshold is 240 +/- 19 mu W pump power, and e mission is observed over a roughly 10-nm range by adjustment of the optical locking feedback phase. Photon-conversion efficiency rises throughout the pump-power region, with a peak value of 15 +/- 245. (C) 1999 Optical Societ y of America.