Compact tunable diode laser with diffraction limited 1000 mW in Littman/Metcalf configuration for cavity ring down spectroscopy

High resolution spectroscopy of environmental and medical gases requires reliable, fast tunable laser light sources in the mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength regime between 3 and 5 μm. Since this wavelength cannot be reached via direct emitting room temperature semiconductor lasers, additional techniques like difference frequency generation (DFG) are essential. Tunable difference frequency generation relies on high power, small linewidth, fast tunable, robust laser diode sources. We report a new, very compact, alignment insensitive, robust, external cavity diode laser system in Littman/Metcalf configuration with an output power of 1000 mW and an almost Gaussian shaped beam quality (M 2 2 O components. This application clearly demonstrates the suitability of this laser for high-precision measurements.