Pulsed, controlled, frequency-chirped laser light at GHz detunings for atomic physics experiments

We have developed a means to control rapidly frequency-chirped laser light at large detuning, by controlling the input modulation frequency of a \(\sim\)7 GHz signal into an electro-optical phase modulator in an injection-locked laser system. We show that we can extend the capabilities of the system to effectively pulse the laser on timescales less than 3 ns by turning the injection lock on/off and create arbitrary frequency-chirp shapes on the laser on the tens of nanosecond time scales. We have been able to use this pulsed frequency-chirped laser to control the excitation of a thermal Rb gas via rapid adiabatic passage.