High-power, narrow-bandwidth laser based on a tapered amplifier

We have constructed a high-power, tunable, narrow-bandwidth, cw laser based on a semiconductor tapered amplifier at a wavelength of 780 nm. Bandwidth narrowing to less than 1 MHz is accomplished with an intra-cavity interference filter, while 10 GHz of continuous tuning is possible with a cavity mirror mounted on a PZT stack. The laser output has a slope efficiency of 0.5 W/A, optical output power of 0.7 W, and will be used for laser cooling of atomic rubidium.