A similar to 20-mW cw radiation source is developed emitting at a wavelengt
h of 457 nm with the linewidth less than 30 kHz. The source is based on a T
i:sapphire laser with frequency doubling in an external cavity containing a
nonlinear LBO crystal. The results of high-resolution spectroscopy of magn
esium atoms in separated optical fields, which demonstrate the possibilitie
s of the system, are presented.