A narrow-band continuous-wave laser source at 191 nm

A continuous-wave deep-ultraviolet light source is demonstrated based on a grating-stabilized diode laser pump system and two consecutive nonlinear conversion stages. Using the crystal Potassium Fluoroberylloborate (KBBF), direct second-harmonic generation to 191 nm could be realized with an output power of up to 1.3 mW. The linewidth at this wavelength is estimated to be around 100 kHz. The emission can be tuned mode hop-free over 40 GHz. Our scheme can be easily extended to 193 nm or – given the availability of suitable fundamental sources – to wavelengths as small as 165 nm. These parameters make our light source an ideal tool for applications in deep-ultraviolet metrology and photoemission spectroscopy.