High-frequency tuning of high-powered DFB MOPA system with diffraction limited power up to 1.5W

The combination of high power, small linewidth and fast tunability is essential for many fields in high resolution spectroscopy. External cavity laser diode systems are limited in tuning speed to several kHz by the resonance frequency of the mechanical assembly together with the actuator. We report on the application of a directly modulated DFB laser as master laser within a master laser power amplifier (MOPA) configuration. This DFB MOPA system combines fast frequency tuning up to more then 100kHz tuning speed, a tuning amplitude of more than 10GHz, a narrow linewidth below 5MHz with high output power of 1500mW and an almost Gaussian shaped beam quality (M-2 < 1.2). The coupling efficiency to optical waveguides as well as single mode fibers exceeds 60%. This concept can be realized within the wavelength regime between 730 and 1060nm. We approved this light source for high resolution spectroscopy by frequency locking to the saturated Rubidium absorption at 780nm. Applying two DFB lasers as master lasers of the MOPA configuration opens the choice to high frequency modulated THz radiation.