External Cavity Diode Laser For Use In Precision Hydrogen Spectroscopy

Using custom machined and commercial parts, an external cavity diode laser (ECDL) with a wavelength of 656 nm was designed, assembled, and optimized for stable frequency and single-mode operation. The ECDL was successfully assembled and tested using multiple optical setups including a grating-based ECDL in a standard Littrow configuration, and using a more recently adopted cat-eye retroreflector configuration. We will compare the performance of both arrangements and discuss the application of this ECDL to address the hydrogen 2S-3P transition in future hydrogen laser spectroscopy. Specifically, this laser may be used to cancel the AC Stark shift when performing two-photon spectroscopy of hydrogen Rydberg states.