Mode-hop-free tuning over 80 GHz of an extended cavity diode laser withoutantireflection coating

We report 80 GHz of mode-hop-free tuning from an extended cavity diode lase r (ECDL) without the need for antireflection coating on the diode facet. A large continuous tuning range was achieved by using a simple electronic cir cuit which simultaneously varies the diode laser current and external cavit y length in an appropriate ratio. The ECDL employs a commercial, single mod e AlGaAs diode laser, operating at 814 nm, in a Littrow external cavity con figuration. The applicability of this technique to the most commonly availa ble single-mode diode lasers without the requirement of antireflection coat ing, makes it an attractive approach for the attainment of mode-hop-free tu ning over extended ranges. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.